Episodes
Dec. 5, 2023
A Durham police officer survives a near-fatal heart attack only to discover he is drowning in medical bills
For many Americans, medical bills are the thing that pushes them over the edge to a place where financial recovery seems impossible. One in ten people are still paying off medical bills in our country; that’s 23 million peopl...
Dec. 4, 2023
How the Israel conflict could affect NC elections in 2024
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is causing a rift within the Democratic Party. President Biden has been criticized by some within his own party for not doing enough to help Palestinians who have been hurt by Israel’s at...
Dec. 1, 2023
Local art and flowers intersect to create a magical North Carolina treasure
Sometimes, you visit a place so magical it’s hard to believe that it’s real. When you go to the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge you feel like you’re in another country. It is so spectacular, so magical, that it takes you on a jour...
Nov. 30, 2023
Cumberland County middle school students get sick after eating gummies on the school bus
Three Cumberland County middle school students were treated and released from the hospital after eating gummies on a school bus. It’s not clear whether the gummies were infused with CBD, THC, or something else. The sheriff’s ...
Nov. 29, 2023
A teenager dies, another one hospitalized after stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School
Southeast Raleigh High School was closed Tuesday after violence on campus took the life of a 15-year-old student and sent a 16-year-old to the hospital. A 14-year-old is in custody facing a juvenile petition in the fatal stab...
Nov. 28, 2023
Man charged with killing UNC-Chapel Hill professor deemed not competent to stand trial
In August, the unthinkable happened in our backyard-a shooting on a college campus. It took place at UNC Chapel Hill. A professor was killed. For hours students and staff sheltered in place in campus buildings while police se...
Nov. 27, 2023
Why the NC attorney general race could steal the spotlight
The 2024 race for North Carolina attorney general is expected to gain outsize attention — and loads of spending — as the role becomes more politicized. No longer is the position just for going after scammers and defending the...
Nov. 24, 2023
How well do we really know North Carolina’s governor? We’ve been saying his name wrong all along…
It’s one thing to mispronounce the name of a colleague or a new friend, but what about mispronouncing the name of the highest elected official in the state of North Carolina? Well, that’s exactly what we’ve all been doing for...
Nov. 23, 2023
Graphic facilitation, where art and business intersect
This story falls into the category of cool jobs I didn’t even know existed. The fancy name is “graphic facilitation.” Basically, it’s an artist who creates a visual representation of a meeting on a whiteboard for all the part...
Nov. 22, 2023
What’s really in sushi? WRAL Investigates puts your favorite food to the test
Sushi has become the go-to food of choice for many Americans today. But how much do we really know about what is in the sushi we eat? WRAL Investigates purchased a variety of sushi in the Triangle and had scientists test it t...
Nov. 21, 2023
Raleigh rabbi returns from Israel transformed by what he witnessed
Rabbi Eric Solomon of the Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh traveled to Israel last week to support victims of the Hamas attack. He was transformed by what he saw, by what he heard, and by what he experienced. In this episode, ...
Nov. 20, 2023
NC gubernatorial underdogs take big messaging swings
Democratic former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan is an uphill fight in the North Carolina governor's race. To stand out, he released an unusually cinematic ad that has generated some buzz. Will it be enough for him t...
Nov. 18, 2023
Toxic chemicals prompt N.C. State to close academic building
N.C. State University officials unexpectedly closed Poe Hall Friday after toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found inside the academic building. WRAL 5 On Your Side Producer Pritchard Strong explains what was found a...
Nov. 17, 2023
A year after a child dies in an accident in the Raleigh Christmas parade her family shares their grief and resilience
It's hard to believe it has been almost a year since 11-year-old Hailey Brooks was hit by the truck driving her dance school float and killed. She was dancing down Hillsborough Street in the Raleigh Christmas Parade, a day th...
Nov. 16, 2023
Triangle rabbi speaks to us from Israel about comforting victims of the Hamas attack and their families
Rabbis from across the country and from North Carolina are in Israel to providing healing and comfort to the victims of the attack by Hamas and their families. One of these rabbis, Rabbi Eric Solomon of Beth Meyer Synagogue i...
Nov. 15, 2023
Did you know you may be getting overtaxed by the state? 5 On Your Side investigates
More than half a million North Carolina taxpayers were overtaxed by the state this year. This is related to a major glitch in the department of revenue’s tax system. The number of people getting incorrect bills is climbing da...
Nov. 14, 2023
The future of nuclear power in the Triangle
The words “nuclear power” have the ability to make a lot of us fearful. In the Triangle, Shearon Harris comes to mind. The cooling tower is located in southwestern Wake County on 5400 acres. The 36-year-old plant can power on...
Nov. 13, 2023
North Carolina’s big bet on clean energy manufacturing
A decision by Toyota to build an electric vehicle battery plant has had a cascading effect on the state's economy. Under Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, the state has spent billions of dollars on tax-payer funded incentives, luri...
Nov. 10, 2023
WRAL posts fake hotel on Expedia; we share what happened
5 On Your Side recently did a story about a fake hotel listing on Expedia that duped both the customers and the business that was located at the actual address—a law firm. As a follow-up, they decided to create their own fake...
Nov. 9, 2023
Rainbow Bridge: a memorial to beloved pets in North Carolina
Pets are family. When we lose a pet the grief can be overwhelming. What if there was a place you could go to remember and pay tribute to your beloved pet, a place where people who understand what you're going through gather t...
Nov. 8, 2023
Bionic reading: Is it for real?
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...
Nov. 7, 2023
WRAL’s winter weather predictions: How much snow will we get?
It’s a little bit like hurricane season. Meteorologists now have the science and the technology to help them predict what our winter weather might look like this year. It’s a big deal for companies who want to make sure their...
Nov. 6, 2023
Reassignment: The student shuffle in Wake County
Overcrowding is forcing thousands of Wake County families to move to new schools every year - the result of a population that is outpacing the county's ability to build schools. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explai...
Nov. 3, 2023
Tricks for getting through the DMV line quicker
For a year, WRAL’s 5 On Your Side team has been studying ways to help you navigate the headaches of waiting in line at the DMV. People have been complaining to WRAL for years that there are few appointments, and the lines see...