WPTF Afternoon News

Braswell Family Farms, a fourth-generation operation based in Nashville, is providing approximately 40,000 hand-dyed eggs for the White House Easter Egg Roll. This marks the fifth consecutive year the farm has supplied eggs on behalf of America’s egg farmers and the American Egg Board. Trey Braswell joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the process behind preparing and delivering the eggs for the event.

President Donald Trump has voiced frustration with U.S. allies reluctant to support military efforts tied to the conflict with Iran, telling them to “go get your own oil” as global supply disruptions push gas prices higher. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has helped drive U.S. gas prices past $4 a gallon and raised concerns about broader economic impacts. Jeff McCausland, CBS News Military Con...

The Durham Bulls will open its 31st season inside Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday. Durham will face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night to start a six-game homestand. Mike Birling, the Vice President of CBC Sports, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new season for the Bulls.

Anyone who’s taken the train from Raleigh to Richmond, Virginia knows it can take some time. The faster route is along what’s known as the S-Line, which is currently a freight line. Virginia and North Carolina are purchasing it to grow freight and passenger rail. Jason Orthner, N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Division Director, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the S-Line

Justin Gainey is coming home. The former N.C. State guard will be named the new head coach of the Wolfpack. Gainey has been an assistant for Rick Barnes at Tennessee for the past four years. He played for the Wolfpack under Herb Sendek, playing every minute of all four games for State during its run to the ACC Tournament championship game in 1997. Gainey has also been an assistant at Appalachian S...

Every month, a group named Empowered is helping teenagers build character and values. Jayden Watkins is the Founder of Higher is Waiting. Empowered serves as a youth mentorship and leadership program. Watkins joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how he started Higher is Waiting.

Duke University is known for its top-tier academics, cutting-edge research, and legendary basketball team, but if you ask students their favorite thing about Duke, a number of them will answer, “The puppies.” A group of Duke students have stepped up to keep the Duke Puppy Kindergarten open. Vanessa Woods, with the Duke Puppy Kindergarten, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the students helped.

The impact of drought and a conflict half a world away could soon show up on peoples’ grocery bills, as North Carolina farmers head into a critical planting season facing higher prices for fuel and fertilizer. John Burt, a ninth-generation farmer and president of the Wake County Farm Bureau, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the increases are impacting farmers

Duke is preparing for St. John's in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament's East Regional tomorrow night. Every year where the Blue Devils have won the National Championship, they've defeated St. John's. Once again, Red Storm coach Rick Pitino faces Duke. Pitino was the Kentucky head coach when Christian Laettner hit his famed buzzer-beater to win the 1992 East Regional championship. Conor O’Neill,...

The Red Reckoning is over after one year. Will Wade is leaving N.C. State to return to LSU as head men's basketball coach. Wade signed a six-year contract last March vowing to return the Wolfpack to the glory days of Jim Valvano. While State did beat a shorthanded UNC team, they lost six of its last seven, three times by over 25 points. Brett Friedlander, a writer for Straight Up Sports.net, joine...

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger has conceded the March 3 Republican primary for his legislative seat to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Berger conceded on Tuesday after a hand recount of some ballots kept that margin at 23 votes. President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger, who has been Senate leader since 2011. Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina Political Science Professor, j...

UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts spoke publicly for the first time since firing head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis. The decision to fire Davis after five seasons came after a recommendation from athletic director Bubba Cunningham and Executive Associate athletic director Steve Newmar, who will replace Cunningham on July 1. Roberts accepted the recommendation on Tuesday. Greg Barnes of Inside Carol...

Marcus Neubacher Director of Administration for the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation) The North Carolina Transportation Museum is celebrating a major milestone. In 2025, the site had a projected economic impact in Rowan County of just over $32 million, which is a record high. It's up more than 5.5% from the previous all-time high of $30.4 million in 2024. Marcus Neubacher, Director of Adminis...

Pollen season is definitely here. You can see the yellow pine pollen on everything and other tree pollens are going after your nose. Shawn Taylor, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, joined Bruce Ferrell to discuss how a lack of rain my impact the amount of pollen locally.

Phil Berger has conceded the Senate District 26 race after the margin of 23 votes did not change after a number of recounts. Former News and Observer writer and political insider Rob Christensen joined Bruce Ferrell to talk about what Berger's decision means and what lies ahead for Sam Page

If UNC decides to move on from Hubert Davis, it will likely mark a landmark moment in Carolina basketball. Since Frank McGuire became the Tar Heels head coach in 1952, the leader of UNC men’s basketball has always been associated with the program. From Dean Smith to Bill Guthridge to Matt Doherty to Roy Williams to Davis, the lineage of Carolina basketball has been long and successful. Thad Willia...

Josh Ellis and Bruce Ferrell breaks down Senate President Phil Berger’s concession in the razor-thin District 26 Republican primary and what it means for Sam Page. From the recount drama to the broader political impact, this breaking news coverage looks at how the outcome could reshape power in Raleigh and beyond.

Amid ongoing speculation about his future, there’s still no word on whether Hubert Davis will return for a sixth season as UNC’s men’s basketball’s coach. As the waiting game continues, is the delay over Davis’ future hurting UNC’s search? David Glenn, from the North Carolina Sports Network and Chapelboro.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the delay

U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is talking with an Iranian leader and claims the Islamic Republic is eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying Monday that it has an additional five days. Olivia Rinaldi of CBS News joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments

Hubert Davis’ days as the North Carolina men’s basketball coach are reportedly numbered. CBS Sports reports a primary group of UNC boosters met late Friday afternoon with university stakeholders. The report states that if Davis stays, the money for roster-building next season would be lacking. Andrew Jones, a Writer for Tar Heel 24/7, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest regarding Davis.

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina. The milestone coincides with March Madness, one of the biggest moments in the U.S. sports betting calendar. Millions of dollars in sports betting has come into the state since March 2024. Brad Senkiw, a gambling industry analyst for Covers.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how much the legalization...

It might seem impossible to get away from the constant barrage of news these days, but in Raleigh, people are “bathing” in nature to wash away stress. A Sunday morning session at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh was led by certified forest therapy guide Shawn Ramsey, a certified forest therapy guide. Ramsey joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the Japanese wellness practice of Shinrin-yoku.

Bruce Ferrell talks with U.S. State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Mignon Houston about services they offer for overseas travelers.

Fred Kiger Winner of the Skeeter Francis Award) Anyone familiar with watching ACC basketball is familiar with Fred Kiger. He has been behind the scenes on ACC broadcasts for years. He’s also a Civil War historian, a teacher, a trivia question writer and now, the winner of the Skeeter Francis Award for long-standing service in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kiger joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss being...

After a national search, William Peace University has named Jennifer E. Walsh as its 13th president. Walsh has 25 years of strategic leadership experience, including being senior vice president for strategic initiatives and chief strategy officer at Hawai‘i Pacific University. Walsh joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her new role.