Episodes
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 Meanwhile, the Trump administration as withdrawn an EPA...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. ...
Jan. 28, 2025
North Carolina doesn't require training hours for tattooing, we explore the dangers and concerns
In North Carolina, you need more training to cut someone's hair than to put permanent ink on someone's skin. After hearing concerns from a Raleigh tattoo shop owner, WRAL's Chris Lovingood investigated what it takes (and does...
Jan. 27, 2025
How the teacher shortage is affecting students with disabilities
North Carolina’s worsening teacher shortage is hampering schools that need special education services. Students with disabilities are increasingly being taught by people who aren’t qualified to provide them with special servi...
Jan. 24, 2025
Where the battle over NC's Supreme Court seat stands
This week, the NC Supreme Court ruled the battle over which candidate should sit on its bench has to go to trial in Wake County Superior Court. Democrat incumbent Allison Riggs leads Republican Jefferson Griffin by about 700 ...
Jan. 23, 2025
What we know about a Raleigh shootout that killed two men and seriously hurt a police officer
On Wednesday, we learned the names of the suspect and victim of a shootout in a Raleigh neighborhood that also injured a Raleigh Police officer. As police continue to investigate, WRAL reporters have been piecing together the...
Jan. 22, 2025
North Carolina sues President Trump over birthright citizenship
North Carolina is joining the list of states suing the Trump administration over an executive order targeting birthright citizenship. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued over President Trump's executive order that would ...
Jan. 21, 2025
Why North Carolina taxes illegal drugs--and why some want to stop
North Carolina is one of a handful of states where people who sell or by illegal drugs are supposed to pay taxes on them. Some argue the bills for those taxes are double jeopardy for people already paying a price in the crimi...
Jan. 20, 2025
How Trump's next term could affect North Carolina
President-Elect Donald Trump's second term begins this week. On the campaign trail, he promised sweeping changes to immigration and economic policy that could affect us here in North Carolina. WRAL's Brian Murphy explains tho...
Jan. 17, 2025
The specialized unit keeping you safe on the road through tractor-trailer inspections
Tractor-trailers are the biggest (and potentially) most dangerous vehicles on the roads. A highly specialized unit in our state is making sure THEY are safe -- so that your family is, too. WRAL Investigates Producer Randall K...
Jan. 16, 2025
The Triangle reacts to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. WRAL has covered local perspectives on the conflict since it began 15 months ago. We share some reaction as the deal will allow hundreds of Palest...
Jan. 15, 2025
Woman charged in fire that burned down House of Art in Raleigh had previous Arson charges
Fifty-nine-year-old Eva Torrellas is facing felony charges and police say she is the woman seen on surveillance video moments before a popular downtown Raleigh bar went up in flames. WRAL's Aaron Thomas explains what we know ...
Jan. 14, 2025
The high-tech policework being used to catch illegal dirt bike & ATV riders
Police say dirt bikes and ATVs are illegally driving on public roads in big groups that sometimes ignore traffic laws. Several Triangle law enforcement agencies are identifying and charging the riders as part of a task force....
Jan. 13, 2025
Why the race for a state Supreme Court seat is still undecided
The race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court is still up in the air — months after the November election, and despite the fact the incumbent received more votes. It’s tied up because of a challenge over voter eligi...
Jan. 10, 2025
The stunning confession connected to a Fayetteville woman charged with murdering her two adoptive children
An astounding new development in the case of a Fayetteville mother accused of killing her adopted children. A woman confirmed to WRAL Investigates that she dismembered the body of Blake Deven. He's the boy investigators say A...
Jan. 9, 2025
Bird Flu found in NC poultry and recent U.S. death raise concerns about potential outbreak
A Hyde County poultry farm has found bird flu among its commercial egg producing flock. The virus' risk to humans is still low but the first human death in the U.S. has health officials on alert. WRAL's Grace Hayba explains t...
Jan. 8, 2025
How should Wake County Schools handle cell phones in the classroom?
Wake County Public Schools is looking at putting its first-ever cell phone policy in place. Many options are on the table, including banning phones altogether. WRAL's Eric Miller talked to parents and students about the possi...
Jan. 7, 2025
Gilbert Baez reflects on time at WRAL after 17 years leading the Fayetteville Bureau
Longtime WRAL reporter Gilbert Baez departed after 17 years leading our reporting from Fayetteville. He's covered the area for decades--through breaking news, severe weather and community driven stories. Gilbert reflects on h...
Jan. 6, 2025
The year ahead in North Carolina politics
There are big changes in North Carolina leadership after the November elections--from the governor to the state legislature and beyond. WRAL State Government Reporter breaks down what he's watching in the new year.
Jan. 3, 2025
Two Raleigh men share what they saw before, during and after the New Orleans terrorist attack
At least 14 were killed and dozens injured when a truck drove through a New Year's Day crowd on Bourbon Street. As the investigation into the suspect continues, WRAL spoke to two men who found themselves in the French Quarter...
Dec. 31, 2024
Revisiting 2024: Blake and London Deven's adoptive mother charged with their murders
As we look back on 2024, the WRAL Daily Download is revisiting some of our episodes from the year. WRAL's Chris Lovingood began reporting on two children missing for years from Fayetteville as soon as we learned about the inv...