Episodes

For months, Republicans have been battling over items in the $30 billion state budget. The biggest obstacle was a plan to expand gambling in North Carolina. GOP lawmakers finally agreed to table this for now so that the budget can move forward. The current proposal includes a 7% pay increase for state workers, including teachers, over the next two years. It also continues the goal of lowering the state income tax and clears the way for major Medicaid expansion. In this episode, WRAL state govern...

It was off, and now, it’s on again. One year after 11-year-old dancer Hailey Brooks was accidentally run over and killed by a pickup truck pulling her dance school’s float as thousands of people watched, the status of the Raleigh Christmas Parade is more confusing than ever. Initially, the city refused to permit the parade saying it was out of respect for Hailey’s memory. The family then said they didn’t ask for the parade to be canceled. So, now it’s back on again with new rules. WRAL’s Matt Ta...

Who doesn’t love lighthouses? The North Carolina coast is almost synonymous with the majestic structures that have been maritime beacons for centuries. Most of us have not visited every single lighthouse in the state. WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason is doing his best to see all of them. In this episode, he gives us insight into the unique history of each lighthouse and tells us what we can expect in his lighthouse special airing tonight on WRAL at 7:30.

A mental evaluation revealed that the man accused of shooting a professor at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill lacks the mental capacity to be tried for the crime. Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old doctoral student, is charged with first degree murder in the August 28th shooting of Associate Professor Zijie Yan that caused a campus-wide lockdown for several hours. WRAL Investigates’ reporter Sarah Krueger was in court for Qi’s most recent appearance and joins us with the latest developments...

Nearly 5000 elevators, escalators and lifts are behind on their inspections in North Carolina. A large portion of them are in Wake County. While accidents are rare, they can be fatal. WRAL spoke to the husband of a woman who died in an elevator accident at work. He wants there to be more awareness about elevator safety. In this episode, WRAL Investigates' reporter Sarah Krueger shares what her team learned about why these inspections are out of date and what the state plans to do about it.

The lawsuit that ended race-based admissions at universities around the country cost the University of North Carolina nearly $25 million to defend. Most of that money went to an international law firm whose attorneys charged the university nearly $1000 an hour. The cost provides insight into the financial impact of high-profile cases on universities. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain breaks down why it matters to taxpayers and why the costs have led to consternation among UNC leaders.

Less than two months after a WRAL investigation into the death of a second child in the care of Nash County’s Department of Social Services, the state of North Carolina is taking over the agency’s troubled welfare section. This is a rare and drastic action for the state to get involved in the operation of a county DSS. In this episode, WRAL anchor and reporter Lena Tillett explains the latest developments in this tragic story.

The nationwide manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison on August 31st, is finally over. He was captured Wednesday morning without incident. But the experience has put many communities on edge in this largely rural area. Prior to his capture, he was spotted on Ring doorbell cameras in the vicinity. Authorities say he changed his appearance and stole a car and a rifle. The search has brought back dark memories of another escape in the same area—th...

It feels like we are always preparing for storms, and sometimes they never come. But when they do come, there are very specific things you need to have on hand in case of an emergency. You could lose power. Roads could be impassible. After major storms, there can be shortages of gas, water, and groceries. These are all things we need to think about during hurricane season. It’s better to be prepared and not need a hurricane kit. In this episode, 5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur walks us through wha...

Imagine you are a woman just getting out of prison and trying to get a job. Or you’re living in a shelter and trying to get a job. There are so many barriers for women coming from vulnerable situations to employment. For women struggling with poverty, emerging from human trafficking or domestic abuse, finding a job can seem hopeless. This is where Designed for Joy steps in. The Raleigh nonprofit has trained and employed more than 120 women in the past 6 years and paid out more than $400,000 in l...

Republican state lawmakers are considering a bill that could change the way North Carolina's elections are administered. It's a nuanced bill, but here's the upshot: If it passes, it could help Republicans strengthen control of state politics for years to come. It's one of several GOP efforts this year to re-shape how politicians are elected in the state. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran explains how elections might change under the new and proposed laws.

In a split second you must decide. Should I run, hide or fight? It can be a lifesaving decision or a dangerous risk. How you and your family react during an active shooter lockdown can make the difference between life and death. We watched this very situation unfold last week on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. WRAL Investigates asked security experts if it’s safer to shelter in place or to get out. In this episode, WRAL’s Sarah Krueger shares what she learned.

A 27 year old Raleigh restaurant manager died after he was assaulted a block from his workplace last week. David Millette, who worked at the Midwood Smokehouse, was attacked on Glenwood South just before 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26. He died in the hospital a few days later. 23 year old Tyrell Moore is charged in Millette's murder. The incident is shining a spotlight on what many people believe is an increase in violent crimes occurring in Raleigh's popular nightlife district. WRAL reporter ...

A North Carolina State University student was found dead outside a residence hall Monday afternoon by several students. NCSU Chancellor Randy Woodson sent a note to the campus community acknowledging their grief and urging them to seek mental health services if they are struggling. The school has its own crisis lifeline that students can call or text 988 to receive free and confidential support. They have also recently added more counselors. During the past school year seven students died by sui...

It’s here to stay. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle. I’m talking about artificial intelligence tools that are available to anyone who has access to the internet. AI can write papers, solve complex equations, and answer test or homework questions in seconds. So, how do we allow students to use these tools responsibly for better understanding, but keep them from using AI to complete their schoolwork? 5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur investigated this very complex issue and shares what she le...

A mammoth question is hanging over the 2024 presidential election: Will former President Donald Trump be eligible to appear on ballots. He's the Republican frontrunner in the race. A group of Trump opponents is trying to keep him off ballots across the country using a legal strategy with roots in North Carolina. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains why conservatives say the strategy could undermine democracy.

The Atlantic Coast Conference - known for rivalries between UNC, Duke, NC State and other East Coast teams - is going bi-coastal. ACC officials voted Friday to invite schools from California and Texas to the conference, dramatically expanding it's geographic footprint. The expansion approval came over objections from some of the league's best-known schools. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy breaks it all down.

Okay, so most of us are familiar with home-sharing apps like Airbnb and VRBO, but have you heard of a pool-sharing app? Yes, I said pool. It was only a matter of time before everything could be shared. “Swimply” rents private backyard pools. But one county’s health department in North Carolina is threatening to shut the site down saying the rentals don’t comply with the state’s rules regarding public pools. In this episode, 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong fills us in on what all the fus...

Have you ever lost anything important and wished you had a way to track it? Now, you do. Airtags can be placed in luggage, on your key ring, even in your wallet. They connect to your phone and show you where you can find your lost item. But what if your item is stolen? Should you go to the location and try to get it back? In this episode, WRAL 5 On Your Side Reporter Keely Arthur talked to local law enforcement and helps people navigate these sticky situations.

In the hours that followed a fatal shooting inside a UNC lab Monday, profiles of the victim and suspect emerged. They worked together in a nanoscience lab - the suspect was a student, the victim an accomplished professor. As the campus mourned the loss of a colleague, police searched for a motive and a weapon - and the students raised questions about active-shooter preparedness. Ashley Talley, WRAL's executive producer for enterprise, breaks down the latest.

Since 2000, more than 50 tropical cyclones have impacted North Carolina. In modern history there have been five hurricanes that did billions of dollars in damage to our state and resulted in dozens of deaths including hurricanes Florence, Matthew, Floyd, Fran, and Hugo. Are hurricanes getting more intense and more frequent? What is the significance of the numerical category of a hurricane? How are they named? When are we at the highest risk of having hurricane? In this episode, we ask WRAL meteo...

There are no words except for it happened here. A shooting took place on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill Monday afternoon in a science building, Caudill Laboratories. One faculty member was killed. The entire campus was put on lockdown for hours as police searched for the shooter. Students and staff silently cowered in locked, dark classrooms, dorm rooms and other campus buildings until they got the all-clear. Terrified students texted their equally terrified parents letting them know what was goi...

North Carolina school districts are grappling with a teacher shortage, so school districts are scouring the globe to attract new educators. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst details the unusual lengths to which recruiters are going to bring teachers to the state.

The family and friends of Allisha Watts have been searching for her for weeks, holding vigils to keep her disappearance in the public eye. Today, the search ended with a grim discovery-her body in a cemetery in Norman, North Carolina at the Montgomery/Richmond County line. Her boyfriend, James Dunmore, the last person to see her alive according to authorities, is now charged in her murder. WRAL reporter Chelsea Donovan has been on the story from the beginning and joins us from the crime scene in...