WPTF Afternoon News

Parents are often told to limit their children’s screen time. But what happens when phones and tablets become a necessity while parents work, cook, or juggle daily responsibilities? New findings from the Stanford Center on Early Childhood suggest screen time is about more than parenting choices. It’s also about the pressures families face and the support they receive. Joining us to discuss the fin...

Closing arguments are underway in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial. The family of Hedgepeth and supporters of the defendant, Miguel Salguero-Olivares, were among the attendees in a packed courtroom. The state argued that the forensic evidence is "screaming the truth." Carl Fox, a former Orange County judge, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss why the defense in the trial rested its case on Wednesday.

NC Crunch Day spotlights the connection between school meals and NC agriculture. Alecia Sanders, Project and Partnerships Manager at NCAH, joined Jeff Hamlin to talk about NC Crunch Day

Mail ballots in North Carolina continue to be rejected at a significantly higher rate than in 2022, after the GOP imposed last-minute restrictions on mail voting, according to the latest data. Natalie Hausmann, from Democracy Docket, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her report.

Schools from Apex, Raleigh, Durham and Hillsborough are included in U.S. News and World Report’s list of the United States’ Best Elementary and Middle Schools list. Jeff Hamlin talked with U.S. News and World Report’s Eric Brooks.

Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous is the latest play at PlayMakers Repertory Company It's playwright Pearl Cleage's razor-sharp comedy that explores generational tensions, friendship, and how art has a life of its own in a story of how a retired actress deals with the interruption of her plans for career-defining comeback to the stage, after discovering she’s being replaced with an ambitious...

We are knee -deep in deep fried fun as the NC State Fair continues this week. In addition to the many incredible food choices, the rides and the agriculture, our fair boasts some of the best entertainment ! Talking to Gayle Hurd about just what you can see at the fair is Heather Overton, Asst. Director of Public Affairs for the NC Ag Department, which runs the NC state Fair

Heather Leah, the author of Lost Towns of North Carolina, finds that the Triangle has a rich history of ghost stories. Leah joined Jeff Hamlin to share some of the legends surrounding local ghost stories.

Since launching N.C. Fuel Check last week, Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s office has received more than 470 complaints and has started reaching out to gas stations that may not be passing along savings from the gas tax suspension to consumers. Jackson joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the complaints

Parts of N.C. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks remain closed as an offshore nor'easter impacts the coast. On Wednesday morning, the state Department of Transportation posted on X: "N.C. 12 is still closed from Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe, and about 800 feet of pavement has now been damaged by forces from the offshore nor'easter. Photographer Jenni Koontz from Epic Shutter Photography joined Jeff...

Raleigh drivers now have a reason to be extra careful on the road. The city has the highest car accident rate among large cities in the nation, according to a study from Lending Tree. Sheri Bangura, an attorney for James Scott Ferrin, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the study.

For the first time since 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series. Many former Durham Bulls players and staffers are on Tampa Bay’s roster that captured the American League championship on Monday night. Tony Riggsbee, the public address announcer for the Durham Bulls, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the Rays and their return to baseball’s biggest stage.

UNC’s shift to digital only One Cards has created voter identification challenges for out-of-state students,. who cannot use their digital student IDs or, after 90 days in North Carolina, their home-state driver’s license to vote. Kate Chapman and Maria Sullivan, from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the situation.

With 15 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has a 13% lead over Republican Michael Whatley among likely voters in the race for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Jason Husser, Elon University’s Poll Director, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new survey.

Former players, coaches and colleagues are mourning the death of former N.C. State football coach Chuck Amato. The head coach of the Wolfpack from 2000-to-2006, Amato passed away following a battle with cancer at the age of 80. Longtime N.C. State historian Tim Peeler joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the life to Chuck Amato.

President Donald Trump sparked widespread bipartisan backlash after signing an executive order waiving key congressional sanctions on Russia. The move follows a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel to lower U.S. fuel costs. Asher Hildebrand, from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments in Russia.

Dare County officials are urging residents to stay off the roads as much as possible due to potentially hazardous conditions from the ongoing coastal storm. On Friday, Dare County issued a mandatory evacuation for visitors on Hatteras Island due to the potential for coastal flooding and repeated ocean over wash to NC 12. Sam Walker of OBX News joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest from the coas...

More than a week after North Carolina lawmakers voted to suspend the gas tax, the state now has the lowest gas prices on average in the entire country. Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy.com joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the impact the tax has had on North Carolina’s motorists.

Chuck Amato, the colorful former N.C. State football coach who led the Wolfpack to its only 11-win season in program history, has died. Amato played linebacker with the Wolfpack under head coach Earle Edwards from 1965-1967. In 2000, he became the head coach at State, right when Phillip Rivers arrived as quarterback. Tony Haynes interviewed Amato during his stint as N.C. State’s sideline broadcast...

How do you help an aging parent stay healthy without nagging, overwhelming them, or turning every family conversation into a health lecture? John Cochrane, CEO of HumanGood, talks with Jon Champion about practical ways older adults and their families can cut through the noise, focus on manageable steps, and work together toward healthier aging—even during the hectic holiday season.

Jon Champion talks with Willie Odell Jordan, a former teacher and retired Wake County educator. The award-winning theatre director and founder of the Crown Jewel Theatre joins Jon to discuss his new theatre company, its inaugural production of American Son, and the power of storytelling to challenge perspectives, spark conversation, and inspire change.

What shapes the way young people think about relationships, gender, and social pressure—and how do those attitudes follow them onto college campuses? In this conversation, Jon Champion speaks with Shanna Marzilli, president and CEO of Plan International USA, about new national research from Perry Undem and Plan International USA examining the pressures young people face, why these issues matter, a...

The NC State Fair is here and with it come not only the rides, the deep fried foods and fun, but the traffic and safety concerns. Each year the Department of Agriculture takes great efforts to ensure that the fair keeps moving and does so with a minimum of congestion and crime. The person at the helm of those efforts again this year is Chief Anthony Prignano, Chief of Police for the NC Agriculture...

Former North Carolina Governor and RightCount North Carolina Chair Pat McCrory will join East Carolina University political science professor Dr. Peter Francia in Greenville this Thursday for a public conversation about the 2026 election, North Carolina’s voting process, and public trust and confidence in elections. McCrory joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the election process as early voting gets un...

A Cary woman is using a Halloween display to draw attention to what she and her neighbors say is a dangerous stretch of road where speeding drivers remain a concern. Ginger Peters has placed a skeleton along Harrison Avenue with a message aimed at both motorists and town leaders. Peters joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the display.