Episodes

Have you ever wondered why there is a crumbling chimney or a rusted car along the trail where you’re hiking in the Triangle? You may have even walked by an old cemetery in the woods and not even seen it. In this episode, WRAL’s Hidden History reporter, Heather Leah, takes us to some of these spots along hiking trails in our area and shares the stories behind some of these unusual monuments to our past.

More than 4000 people in North Carolina died from drug overdoses in 2021. This is the highest number of drug-abuse deaths ever recorded in our state in a single year. 77% of those deaths involved fentanyl according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In this episode, WRAL documentary reporter and producer Cristin Severance tells us about her upcoming documentary: “Crisis Next Door.”

Weighed down with high expectations, UNC’s men’s basketball team never really got it going this season. Now they’ve missed the NCAA Tournament, despite starting the season ranked No. 1. What went wrong? Where do the Tarheels go from here? How much are Duke and NC State fans loving this? WRAL Sports Director Jason Jennings visits the Daily Download to hash it all out.

The new Republican majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court recently made the extraordinary decision to rehear two big voting rights cases that Democrats won in 2022. The justices’ choice, which questions decisions by the previous Democratic-majority court, could reverberate well beyond the 2024 elections and they raise philosophical questions about the court’s path forward. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks it down.

In 1961, a B-52 Bomber bound for the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base crashed in Wayne County. It was carrying two nuclear bombs which fell into the wetlands there. Amazingly, they did not detonate. Most of the evidence of the nuclear bombs has been removed from the site…but they didn’t get all of it. And many people remember the day as the day their world almost changed forever. Hidden History reporter Heather Leah explains what happened and what is there now. https://www.wral.com/nuclear-mishap...

What is the secret to not just aging gracefully, but to thriving as we get older? Currently, there are 56 million people over 65 in our country according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amounts to almost 17% of the population. WRAL senior Durham reporter Sarah Krueger spoke to seniors about what they believe are the secrets to aging well.

Born during the pandemic, this show hosted by four local arts councils in the Triangle recognizes the immense talent that we have in our area. WRAL showcases this talent in the third annual show and raises money for the organizations that make arts programming possible throughout the region. Producer Don Ursich joins me along with Jennifer McEwen, President and CEO of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, to explain the mission and tell us what we can expect from this year’s show.

If you’re a parent looking for children’s over-the-counter pain and fever medication at your local pharmacy in the Triangle you may be surprised to find the shelves sparse. Multiple illnesses over the winter increased the need for these drugs, and the supply still hasn’t bounced back. WRAL’s 5 on Your Side producer Pritchard Strong breaks it down for us.

Republican legislators are meeting privately to discuss tightening North Carolina’s abortion law, which currently bans the procedure after 20 weeks. They want to reduce that time, but the question is by how much. Whatever they propose, GOP leaders in the General Assembly will need help from Democrats to bypass an expected veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain breaks down the negotiations and the political wrangling that could follow.

Today, fathers are often equal partners when it comes to parenting. The joys of juggling twins and a toddler is a new experience for WRAL anchor Ken Smith and his wife Amanda. In this episode, Ken gets personal and explains what it’s like to balance work and parenthood. He makes it look easy. But don’t be fooled by his big smile and his infectious laughter -- he’s tired.

The top leaders in North Carolina’s legislature reached an agreement that is expected to expand Medicaid coverage. The momentous deal, announced Thursday, is the culmination of more than a decade of political wrangling and a Republican change of heart. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain breaks down the plan, along with the machinations and the politics that got us here.

All but 13 states have laws that allow marijuana to be prescribed by doctors for medical use. North Carolina is considering such a law. This week in their initial vote senators passed the legislation by a vote of 36 to 10. Once it passes a second vote, it heads to the State House for their approval. Those opposed to it don’t believe it really works and are concerned this will open the door to overall legalization of marijuana. WRAL political reporter Will Doran joins us to explain the current pr...

Gone are the days when people simply book hotels when they travel. Instead, travelers are taking advantage of the 8 million rentals available in nearly 200 countries around the world through multiple platforms. WRAL’s 5 on Your Side reporter Keely Arthur tells us about one woman’s bad experiences with VRBO and how Keely’s team helped her get her money back and her bad review deleted. Also, tips on how you can avoid the same pitfalls.

If a fire breaks out at your house, experts estimate you have 3 minutes to escape. That’s far less time than 30 years ago. The reason: Synthetic materials that make up household items these days burn hotter, and faster, than older, heavier ones. One house fire in Alamance County broke out because someone put the wrong material jacket in a dryer.

High-profile incidents involving guns in public schools are prompting school systems to investigate the best ways to beef up security. North Carolina education leaders are exploring metal detectors and new-fangled weapons detection systems, but several experts caution that those systems may not be worth the millions of dollars they cost. WRAL Education Reporter Emily Walkenhorst explains how things such as tip hotlines, antibullying programs and door locks could provide some of the best defense.

Back in the spring of 1963, civil rights leader Floyd McKissick, Sr. invited Malcolm X to the Triangle for a debate about assimilation versus integration within the fight for equality. The debate almost didn't happen when the city of Durham pulled its support and venue -- eventually a new venue was found, and McKissick Sr.’s young son Floyd McKissick Jr. was among those in the audience. McKissick Jr. recounts a childhood framed by the movement: from the steady stream of civil rights leaders vis...

Floyd McKissick Sr. worked with civil rights leaders that including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. When race kept him from getting into UNC Law School, McKissick fought back in court and won. Eventually, his case would be used as the basis for the landmark desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. Reporter and anchor Ken Smith interviewed his son Floyd McKissick Jr. who shares his father’s legacy as WRAL continues to celebrate Black History Month.

When inflation rises, so do corporate profits. WRAL Investigates looked at how the desire to make more money is raising what you pay for food at the grocery store.

A Republican-backed piece of legislation called the Parents’ Bill of Rights has passed the North Carolina Senate and is on its way to the House. The law would require teachers to tell parents when students are questioning their gender. Supporters of the bill say parents have a right to know this information. Those opposed to the bill, including many LGBTQ advocates, say this could cause some parents to reject or abuse their children and could even lead to suicide. WRAL’s capitol bureau chief Lau...

An anti-rioting bill has passed in the state House and is on its way to the state Senate for debate. Supporters say the bill is aimed at quelling violent protests. People who are against it say it is racist and unconstitutional. They believe it would be unfairly used to target Black Lives Matter protests and arrest people who are exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. WRAL’s capitol bureau chief Laura Leslie explains the proposed legislation and the debate surrounding it. ...

Thousands of jobs remain open across North Carolina’s government, hampering the state’s ability to offer basic services to a booming population. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains what the state is doing to recruit and retain workers in a tricky job market — and while agencies wait to see if legislators will deliver a budget that gives state workers a pay bump.

As part of WRAL’s continuing celebration of Black History Month, we are sharing another story about the Underground Railroad with WRAL’s Hidden History Reporter Heather Leah. This time, she tells us about her experience traveling to Halifax, the site of triumph for many Freedom Seekers, but also the site where the struggle of some enslaved people to escape ended tragically.

Back in 1991, the Triangle was growing, and so was the interest in professional sports.The World League of American Football started the Skyhawks. They played for exactly one season at Raleigh’s Carter-Finley Stadium and never won a game. Sports Radio Host Joe Ovies fills us in on this little-known story in local sports history and tells us about his upcoming podcast, “Brief History of Triangle Sports.”

This is a big week for Raleigh and the Carolina Hurricanes. Saturday’s outdoor game at Carter Finley Stadium puts Raleigh in the national hockey spotlight. The Canes are having an amazing season, and with one Stanley Cup win in 2006, the spotlight is not new to team. What’s different here is Raleigh, North Carolina itself. Adam Gold talks with Brian Murphy on what the game brings to the community, the fans and Raleigh’s status as a “hockey town.”