Episodes

Oct. 31, 2024

WRAL News Poll shows the economy tops the list of issues for NC voters in the 2024 Election

This week we've looked at WRAL News Polls that show North Carolina voters split on who to elect presidency and more decisive on their choice for Governor. Today, we are looking at the issues those same voters say are most important to them. WRAL's Brian Murphy breaks down what we've learned.
Oct. 30, 2024

WRAL News Poll shows Josh Stein leads big over Mark Robinson for NC Governor

A WRAL News Poll shows NC Attorney General Josh Stein leading Lt. Governor Mark Robinson by double digits in the Gubernatorial race. It's a stark contrast to the razor thin margin between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump among North Carolina in the race for President. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down what polling tells us about how voters are thinking about the choice for our state's next Governor.
Oct. 29, 2024

WRAL News Poll shows a dead heat in Presidential Race among North Carolina voters

With just one week left in this year's campaign, we have the results of our scientific statewide WRAL News Poll. It shows that Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump are tied among North Carolina voters. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the findings.
Oct. 29, 2024

WRAL News Poll shows a dead heat in Presidential Race among North Carolina voters

With just one week left in this year's campaign, we have the results of our scientific statewide WRAL News Poll. It shows that Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump are tied among North Carolina voters. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the findings.
Oct. 28, 2024

NC schools try to retain workers without federal bonus cash

Over the past four years, more than $1 billion in federal dollars has gone toward bonuses aimed at retaining North Carolina school employees. Now the pot of money is gone. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explains what school systems are doing to continue incentivizing teachers, bus drivers and other employees to stay at a time of high turnover.
Oct. 25, 2024

WRAL Health reporter explains recent E. coli outbreak in onions

McDonald's says the source of its E. coli outbreak are onions served on the Quarter Pounder hamburger. There are no cases in North Carolina but more restaurants are pulling onions off their menu items. WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba explains this outbreak and shares an update on cases of a parasitic illness now tied to onions that did affect people in our state.
Oct. 24, 2024

How climate change could affect North Carolina homeowners sooner than you think

Hurricane Helene highlights the pressing climate risks facing homeowners and homebuyers in North Carolina. With other weather events highlighting similar vulnerabilities, it's important to understand how these factors could affect your home and future investments. WRAL Climate Reporter Liz McLaughlin explores the impact rising sea levels have on our coastline, the dangers posed by outdated FEMA flood maps and how new tools help you assess your property's climate risks.
Oct. 23, 2024

What's behind Mark Robinson removing $50 million from his CNN lawsuit

On Monday, Lt. Governor Mark Robinson filed an amended complaint to his defamation case against CNN. He's now asking for $25,000 instead of $50 million. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains why it goes back to state law.
Oct. 22, 2024

The political spotlight shines on North Carolina two weeks to Election Day

Former President Donald Trump made several campaign stops in North Carolina Monday. Kamala Harris visited the state last week and more of her surrogates are expected to campaign for her in the days to come. These are the most obvious signs that North Carolina's election results are among some of the most anticipated in the country. WRAL's Laura Leslie breaks down the attention our state is getting.
Oct. 21, 2024

Could the race for AG offer a peek into the future?

The candidates for North Carolina Attorney General offer different visions for the state’s highest law enforcement post — a seat that has been a launching pad for higher office and has taken on elevated importance as states increasingly litigate federal issues. WRAL reporter Brian Murphy breaks down the race between Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Jeff Jackson and explains why they’re leaving Congress to run for a statewide position.
Oct. 18, 2024

Local hospitals are turning to Gatorade amid an IV fluid shortage

Hospitals in the Triangle are getting creative to conserve vital IV fluids. Shipments were reduced after the nation’s largest manufacturing plant in Western North Carolina was damaged by Hurricane Helene. WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba discovered some of the tools being used...including Gatorade.
Oct. 17, 2024

The violent Hells Angels motorcycle gang feud federal prosecutors say led to 16 arrests

A deadly New Year's Day shooting in Raleigh. Chaos in a North Carolina Dairy Queen parking lot. These are the two events a federal indictment links to Hells Angels, the Red Devils and rival motorcycle club, the Pagans. WRAL's Chelsea Donovan walks through the evidence prosecutors are using to make that case.
Oct. 16, 2024

Robison sues CNN. What the complaint says — and what it doesn’t

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson sued CNN over a report that alleged he made racist and sexually explicit comments on a pornographic website more than a decade ago. Robinson has denied the allegations. He’s now seeking $50 million dollars in damages, saying the report harmed his reputation and caused him anxiety and distress. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the complaint.
Oct. 15, 2024

Western NC FEMA locations reopen, man arrested after threats against workers

On Monday, several FEMA locations reopened after a 44-year-old man was charged with making threats against the agency's workers in Western North Carolina. WRAL's Eric Miller explains how those threats led them to suspect a Rutherford County man.
Oct. 14, 2024

Funding cliff changes how NC schools combat learning loss

Learning recovery programs are shrinking or disappearing altogether as North Carolina schools adjust to life after federal stimulus funding. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhost explains what school systems are doing to help students catch up from Covid-area learning loss.
Oct. 11, 2024

5 On Your Side investigates after a Wake County mom says a teacher vacancy hurt her son's development

A mother discovered she had never been informed that her son's classroom has been without a permanent teacher all year. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur and WRAL's Education Insider investigated and found the issue is bigger than just one classroom or district.
Oct. 9, 2024

5 On Your Side on what to do if your mountain vacation got disrupted by Helene

Western North Carolina is beginning its recovery process from Hurricane Helene during what is traditionally its busiest tourism season. Travelers who want to support the area and had already booked vacation rentals now have a tough choice -- face shutdown roads, some closed businesses and destruction from the hurricane... or lose their money. In just the last week 5 On Your Side has received more than a dozen complaints from vacationers denied refunds or the chance to reschedule.
Oct. 9, 2024

WRAL Meteorologist breaks down why Hurricane Milton could cause major destruction in Florida

Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. Clean up continues in beach towns hit by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago. This time many are fleeing with cities like Tampa expected to be hard hit. WRAL Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth explains what makes this storm so intimidating.
Oct. 8, 2024

Helene-impacted counties in North Carolina see voting changes with Election Day less than a month away

The North Carolina State Board of Elections unanimously approved voting rule changes for 13 counties hit hard by Helene in the western part of the state. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains those changes.
Oct. 7, 2024

NC Supreme Court seat up for grabs. Here's what's at stake

High profile cases over executive power, election laws and education funding have been flowing through state courts. That’s putting the spotlight on the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the contest.
Oct. 4, 2024

A WRAL reporter's time embedded with the North Carolina National Guard in Western NC

More than a thousand troops are in Western North Carolina as the response to Helene makes progress. WRAL's Heidi Kirk joined a group of National Guard members working to get supplies to people in need and shares her first-hand account of the challenging conditions they face.
Oct. 3, 2024

Roads impassible, communities cut off in Avery County as the High Country seeks help in Helene response

President Joe Biden flew over the damage in Western North Carolina on Wednesday as 1,000 Fort Liberty soldiers mobilized to help in those counties. WRAL Meteorologist Chris Michaels reports from Avery County on the conditions there.
Oct. 2, 2024

Henderson and Transylvania Counties dealing with catastrophic Helene damage

Food, water and supplies are slowly trickling into Asheville and other communities in Western Carolina. However, some hard hit counties are still without relief with no end in sight. WRAL's Eric Miller talked to people in Henderson and Transylvania Counties about their biggest challenges.
Oct. 1, 2024

An on-the-ground perspective of Helene's devastating floods

The death toll from Helene continues to climb in Western North Carolina. As clean up and rescue efforts continue, many are still wrapping their heads around the extent of the damage. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher was there as the flooding began and explains his experience trying to cover the storm safely.