Episodes

This episode originally aired on January 20, 2023, but it’s a trend that continues. As Raleigh’s skyline fills with cranes that are busy building new high-rises, some of the old flavor that many people grew up with is disappearing. WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah takes us on a trip down memory lane to take stock in what is vanishing to make way for progress. https://www.wral.com/losing-history-8-iconic-places-that-changed-forever-in-raleigh-last-year/20646793/

This show originally aired in December 2022, but trying to understand the rules of recycling never gets outdated. Most of us want to be better stewards of the planet we live on, but recycling rules can be confusing and can vary by municipality. WRAL reporter Travis Fain breaks it all down for us (pardon the pun), walking us through what can be recycled, what the rules are and he tells us what happens to all the stuff after it leaves our homes. https://www.wral.com/there-s-always-a-shoe-what-to-a...

Lawmakers are considering provisions that would help UNC Health and Atrium Health, already some of the industry's biggest players, expand. The Federal Trade Commission has raised concerns about competition. WRAL state government reporter Travis Fain explains how the effort could affect the health care landscape in the state - and your medical bills.

Amanda Mullen was in a Wilson County courtroom asking for a domestic violence protective order. She says she had no choice but to bring her ten-month old baby with her because she is exclusively breastfed. Mullen says she was shocked when the judge verbally chastised her in front of everyone for bringing the baby to court. She says she was humiliated and felt very vulnerable in front of her abuser. The rules in North Carolina about having children in the courtroom are not very clear. As a result...

With a coastline of more than 300 miles that attracts more than 12 million visitors per year, North Carolina has its hands full when it comes to dealing with water emergencies. Only 17 of our state’s beaches have lifeguards. Our WRAL Investigates team reached out to agencies who employ emergency responders along the coast to see if they have enough people to handle the summer crowds. In this episode, senior producer Randall Kerr fills us in on what his team found.

We started the month of June speaking with a Raleigh business owner about what the Pride movement means to him, and how it has allowed him to thrive both personally and professionally. In this episode, as Pride month comes to an end, WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah shares the history of the Pride movement in Raleigh and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the original businesses that created the first safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. https://www.wral.com/story/secret-codes-an...

This week a new abortion law will go into effect in North Carolina which tightens restrictions unless a federal judge blocks them. This comes after the GOP-controlled legislature overrode the governor’s veto of the controversial bill last month. Some of the biggest changes include the measure that restricts abortion to just 12 weeks—that’s down from 20 weeks—and new hoops that women seeking abortions will need to jump through. WRAL state government reporter Travis Fain fills us in on last-minute...

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 electronic filing system less efficient causing major backups and even some major mistakes in these counties. A lawsuit has been filed seeking millions in damages for the alleged injustices this new system has caused. In this episode, WRAL reporter Chelsea Donovan investigates an...

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 relationship was appropriate because Lassiter's wife said she was separated during their relationship. WRAL obtained documents that raise questions about the case. WRAL state govenment reporters Paul Specht and Travis Fain explain how they could central to Moore's defense.

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 discovered not only are 40 plus others in this situation, but the state is claiming it also overpaid disability benefits. More than 30 people received this news. In this episode, WRAL’s 5 On Your Side reporter Keely Arthur shares her team’s investigation into how this happened.

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 violence victim from Cumberland County. She is speaking out in the hopes that her voice will give other victims the strength to do the same thing.

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 and investigative reporter. In this episode, Cullen sits down with me and has an intimate conversation about his most profound memories, the legacy he leaves behind, what he wants young journalists to know and what life after television news looks like for him and his family...

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 government is using or not using its office space, and how they’re pivoting to accommodate this new work-from-home culture. In this episode, WRAL Senior Producer Randal Kerr shares with us what they found.

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 Walkenhorst explains why the state is unique in what it requires - and doesn't require - of private schools that receive public money.

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 years by members of the Black community. In this episode, WRAL’s Hidden History reporter explains what the first days of freedom looked like and shares how a generation of freed families built a life here in Raleigh. https://www.wral.com/amp/20331721/

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 clinic in Arizona and paying for that treatment out of pocket. Reluctantly, Danielle McKean followed the lead of many others in need and created a GoFundMe campaign to try and offset the cost. WRAL anchor and reporter Julian Grace speaks to us about his interview with her in th...

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 a passion. Luke Reynolds has created a very special personal relationship with his audience. WRAL anchor and reporter Grace Holland shares his inspirational story with us.

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 have even become popular event spaces that you can visit. In this episode, WRAL’s Hidden History reporter, Heather Leah, takes us on a special tour of North Carolina’s castles.

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 one Raleigh neighborhood when stormwater runoff from a townhouse community under construction sent water right up to their doorways. WRAL’s 5 On Your Side investigated. In this episode, producer Pritchard Strong breaks it all down for us and explains why everyone needs to be...

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 new import after federal charges against Trump were unsealed on Friday. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran provides on-the-ground analysis from the convention, with a look at what the candidates had to say about Trump's legal predicament.

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 the obstacles he faced in trying to understand what toxic chemicals are being transported through North Carolina on our 3000 miles of railways. He also delves into new legislation that could help better protect people who live in areas where trains derail.

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. Sharon believes that emergency rooms are woefully unprepared to deal with these crises and that big changes need to be made. She also believes there needs to be a clearer path for brain tissue research so that scientists can study the brains of people who die by suicide. In ...

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 episode, we ask the the North Carolina Wildlife Commission Biologist Falyn Owens these questions and get tips on what to do if you have a close encounter with a bear. LINKS: https://www.wral.com/story/two-black-bears-spotted-in-past-two-days-in-chapel-hill/20894750/

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 his taxes only to find out in 2021 that he owed thousands of dollars because of a mistake they made in 2018. In this episode, 5 on Your Side’s Keely Arthur tells us how her team helped Gidding get the money to pay the IRS and offers tips to taxpayers and other veterans about...