Episodes

July 22, 2025

New college football season begins with an uncertain future

Tuesday marks the beginning of the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte. It's the Atlantic Coast Conference's annual football preview event. It's the unofficial start to a season full of uncertainty. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Br...
July 21, 2025

Storm Myths, Cloud Seeding and North Carolina’s Geoengineering Debate

After the deadly floods in Texas, your social media feed may have been filled with viral false posts blaming "weather-control planes" for the storms. Experts say the physics do not line up but state lawmakers are seeking to b...
July 18, 2025

NC Democrats seek to pry a state Senate seat from Republicans

North Carolina Democrats need to flip just one seat in the state Senate next year to give Gov. Josh Stein more veto power. Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in the chamber. Whether the GOP keeps that power could come dow...
July 17, 2025

Why North Carolina is seeing a bug boom after heavy rain and heat

As parts of our area recover from flooding due to recent rainfall, some are dealing with another consequence--more bugs. Experts say insect populations are exploding due to summer heat and rain. WRAL climate change reporter L...
July 16, 2025

Man charged in Faith Hedgepeth murder now faces new drug charges

Miguel Salguero-Olivares is waiting for trial in the Durham County Detention Center. On Tuesday, a court hearing focused on charges that he had meth inside the jail. It comes as his defense team continues to build its case fo...
July 15, 2025

North Carolina sues over Trump education funding cuts

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced announced a lawsuit Monday over more than $165 million in frozen education funds. Other states have also filed suits over federal education grants cancelled nationwide. W...
July 14, 2025

How a new children's hospital could transform a growing Wake County town

A partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health plans to build the state's first standalone hospital in Apex. The deal is expected to transform a wide swath of the growing western Wake County town, paving the way for a multi...
July 11, 2025

5 On Your Side testing finds pricing errors at local grocery stores

Imagine picking up an item on sale, only to be charged full price at checkout. 5 On Your Side found that this is taking place at several local grocery stores. 5 On Your Side Producer Pritchard Strong shares where this is happ...
July 10, 2025

Hillsborough urges conservation as water system remains fragile

Even after lifting a boil water advisory, Hillsborough town leaders called for people who live there to conserve their water. Intense floods overwhelmed the sanitary sewer system over the weekend. WRAL's Flynn Snyder explains...
July 9, 2025

Sanford community remembers family of four killed in plane crash

Travis, Candace, Aubrey and Walker Buchanan died Monday in a plane crash in Lee County. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what happened. WRAL's Heidi Kirk explains what we know so far.
July 8, 2025

Tropical Depression Chantal leaves widespread property damage at Hyco Lake

The storm brought record rain to parts of Moore, Chatham, Orange and Durham counties. It also brought flooding to parts of Person County along Hyco Lake. WRAL's Grace Holland explains the clean up ahead.
July 7, 2025

Why NC’s career-switching teachers are quitting the classroom

North Carolina has long depended on career-switching professionals to help fill its teaching ranks, giving them temporary licenses with the expectation that they’ll earn a full license within a few years. But many of these te...
July 4, 2025

1 year later: WRAL revisits the case of a Fayetteville mother accused of murdering her adoptive children

1 year ago, a Fayetteville mother was arrested because she was accused of murdering two of her adopted children. Since that time, WRAL has kept an eye on Avantae Deven's case ahead of trial. WRAL's Chris Lovingood recaps what...
July 3, 2025

A new study finds kids' foods are more likely to contain synthetic dyes

A new study led by UNC researcher Elizabeth Dunford reveals that nearly 20% of popular U.S. food products contain synthetic dyes, with a significant concentration found in items marketed to children. WRAL Health Reporter Grac...
July 2, 2025

With Tillis out, GOP has more clarity — and hope — in North Carolina

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis surprised fellow Republicans Sunday when he said he wouldn’t seek reelection next year. The decision has underscored the dangers Republicans face when opposing Republican President Donald Trump. And i...
July 1, 2025

How climate change made Raleigh's record-breaking heat more likely

In the last week, we've seen a stretch of record breaking summer heat. Experts says climate change is making those kinds of days five times more likely. WRAL's Liz McLaughlin explains the metric used to track this kind of tem...
June 30, 2025

Budget talks stall, shrimping ban fails and Helene bill prevails as NC lawmakers adjourn

North Carolina lawmakers adjourned for summer vacation without approving a budget, leaving a number of big spending priorities in limbo. But the legislature did agree on a few things, sending dozens of bills to Gov. Josh Stei...
June 27, 2025

A new WRAL documentary explores cancer in young North Carolinians

Cancer is striking people younger than ever. We’re talking about aggressive forms of cancer happening to people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. WRAL Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance shares the stories of three North Carolin...
June 26, 2025

What you need to know about the first measles case in North Carolina

The first case of the measles was found in Guilford and Forsyth counties earlier this week. It comes as cases continue across the country. WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba explains how to protect yourself.
June 25, 2025

SBI joins investigation into a Wake County house fire that killed a man and two teenagers

The Wake County Sheriff's Office says 49-year-old Shannon Collins, a 13-year-old and a -15-year-old were found dead inside a home after a house fire. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of their ...
June 24, 2025

A top NC Democrat needs new desks. She also needs Republicans' approval

North Carolina lawmakers are sparring over the details of a $32 billion-dollar state spending plan. One thing they seem to agree on is a $95,000 budget request for new office furniture for Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt. But the reques...
June 23, 2025

What new emails tell us about how UNC handled fallout from Bill Belichick interview

WRAL obtained new emails and text messages that show how Bill Belichick repsonded to questions about why his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson joined him at a nationally televised interview. WRAL's Brian Murphy explains what we learn...
June 20, 2025

Zoning change approval opens up RTP for residential redevelopment

From Research to Residential. Research Triangle Park covers 7,000 acres in Wake and Durham counties. 55,000 people also work at RTP , but when they clock out, it goes empty -- until now. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher explains the re...
June 19, 2025

Why are Pride flags disappearing from a Wake County neighborhood?

People all over the Triangle say their Pride flags have disappeared from their neighborhoods. A Cary woman believes hers was stolen from her home--and she's not alone. WRAL's Heidi Kirk explains.