Episodes
March 6, 2025
Warrants say Spring Lake teen used Instagram to arrange meeting with man
A teenage girl who was the subject of one of two Amber Alerts last week made plans on Instagram to meet one of the suspects. Suspects in this case and another out of Siler City face kidnapping and human trafficking charges. W...
March 5, 2025
Raleigh man's 'Pretend' podcast explores deceptive world of true crime
Javier Leiva has lived in the Carolinas for the past decade. In 2017, the Raleigh man began hosting the "Pretend" podcast . "Pretend" is a documentary-style, true crime podcast about real people pretending to be someone else....
March 4, 2025
Siler City kidnapping suspects in the U.S. illegally denied bond
The men accused of kidnapping and trafficking a Siler City teen were denied bond, with a judge saying they are public threats. Both men were in the country illegally and had previous run-ins with law enforcement. WRAL's Desti...
March 3, 2025
Should NC judicial elections be nonpartisan?
North Carolina’s judges are chosen by voters in partisan elections, just like any other politician. But should judges have party labels next to their names on the ballot? WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains why...
Feb. 28, 2025
How a recalled hot tub pump might have led to a Cary house fire
A popular product meant for relaxation may be putting families at risk. A Cary family, recently displaced by a fire, says investigators suspect a hot tub (or the pump that comes with it) purchased from a local Costco may have...
Feb. 26, 2025
Why 'death by distribution' charges are contributing to an autopsy backlog for the state
Three men police say died of overdoses in Durham sparked a WRAL Investigation into the delay in their autopsy results. It found that the kind of charges sought to hold someone responsible for their deaths is slowing down the ...
Feb. 25, 2025
WRAL investigation finds major Triangle employers are behind on fire inspections
Companies like Wolfspeed and RTI are years behind on their fire inspections because of staffing shortages at the Durham County Fire Marshall's Office. WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger explains the changes that started happeni...
Feb. 24, 2025
Anderson Clayton wins second term as NC Democratic Party chair
North Carolina Democrats reelected Anderson Clayton as state party chair over the weekend — again putting the 27-year-old in charge of a critical state for the party. Clayton originally won the seat in 2023, promising to impr...
Feb. 20, 2025
A closer look at the state's winter storm response and WRAL's continuous coverage on it
North Carolina is experiencing another winter storm this week. On this episode of the WRAL Daily Download, we share how the state prepared and what officials say YOU need to do to stay safe. Also, a breakdown on WRAL's contin...
Feb. 19, 2025
How climate change is altering NC’s winter storms
Even though we've seen three winter storms in the Triangle this season, experts say Raleigh's winters are warming. It will mean extreme weather patterns and fewer cold nights as winter changes over time. WRAL Climate Change R...
Feb. 17, 2025
What if the Department of Education goes away?
President Donald Trump says he wants to close the department of education, and some members of Congress are on board with the idea. North Carolina receives billions of federal dollars for public schools, plus aid and loans fo...
Feb. 14, 2025
How a UNC student fell victim to financial "sextortion"
If your child is old enough to be online, they're old enough to be taken advantage of by criminals. The FBI is warning of a rise in what's known as financial " sextortion ." In the last few months, at least two UNC students w...
Feb. 13, 2025
North Carolina board warns of people posing as dentists
The State Board of Dental Examiners says its seen an increase in unlicensed people posing as dental professionals over the last year and a half. Many patients are drawn in by low prices in social media advertisements. WRAL's ...
Feb. 12, 2025
Fort Liberty is now Fort Bragg again--but not that Bragg
Earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth declared the Army would rename the base in Fayetteville back to Fort Bragg. Instead of taking the name of a Confederate general, as it was for decades until 2023, this tim...
Feb. 11, 2025
Public records reveal Durham District Attorney comes to the office roughly half of work days
They're elected officials funded by your tax dollars--how often should local district attorneys be in the office? WRAL Investigates went through years of data and found there are big discrepancies between counties. WRAL's Sar...
Feb. 10, 2025
A new ruling in lawsuit to toss 60K NC ballots; Helene relief funding update
A Wake County judge issues a key ruling in the legal battle over ballots that could determine the winner of a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Meanwhile, state lawmakers meet to discuss more funding for victims of Hu...
Feb. 7, 2025
The Raleigh WWII veteran with a post office and a Netflix movie dedicated to her service
Millie Dunn Veasey's family knew about her accomplishments as a civil rights activist but they didn't know the full extent of her military service until late last year. The Raleigh native served in the only all-Black, all fem...
Feb. 6, 2025
Broken: WRAL's newest documentary investigates North Carolina's foster care system
The tragic deaths of two local foster children and the arrest of their adoptive mother have raised big questions about our state’s child welfare system -- a system meant to protect the most vulnerable children. WRAL Documenta...
Feb. 5, 2025
North Carolina school districts trying to calm parents as fake ICE messages cause panic
This week both Nash and Edgecombe County Schools responded to Immigration and Customs Enforcement hoaxes that alarmed parents this week. It comes as President Trump's stronger immigration policies go into affect. WRAL's Heidi...
Feb. 4, 2025
The federal lawsuit targeting North Carolina's 'broken' foster care system
A new federal lawsuit wants the courts to force North Carolina to fix what it calls a broken foster care system. Children, many of them already traumatized, spend years inside the system and many of them bounce from home to h...
Feb. 3, 2025
How new officials are trying to speed Helene recovery efforts
Newly elected state and federal leaders are looking to improve government efforts to help victims of Hurricane Helene. President Donald Trump and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein are promising to speed up relief. WRAL State...
Jan. 31, 2025
What changes from the Trump administration could mean for water treatment efforts in NC
Earlier this week, several new PFAS treatment facilities opened in the Triangle in part of a larger effort to remove the toxic "forever chemicals" from the water supply. Meanwhile, the Trump administration as withdrawn an EPA...
Jan. 30, 2025
Deaths at the Dentist: The push for anesthesia regulations in North Carolina
Many people dread a visit to the dentist, but few think of it as dangerous. WRAL Investigates found numerous times, in recent years, when local dentists were deemed responsible for patients’ deaths. WRAL Investigates Reporter...
Jan. 29, 2025
How a Department of Defense change to moving could affect military service members in North Carolina
Hundreds of thousands of military service members move every year nationwide. It can be a big undertaking for military families and some worry that a change at the Department of Defense could make the process more stressful. ...