WPTF Afternoon News

State lawmakers are offering their own ideas to fight crime, after the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on the Charlotte light rail system -- Speaking to reporters at the legislative building, State Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said one proposal will address the return of the death penalty. Ned Mangum is a former Wake County District Attorney. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the chal...

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was assassinated as he parried questions from an audience of thousands at a Utah college. The shooter has not been found. Authorities say Kirk was killed with a single shot from a rooftop on Wednesday. Whoever fired the gun then slipped away amid the ch...

Paul Lewis Vice President for the N.C. State Chapter of Turning Point USA) NC State students involved in Turning Point USA, the conservative youth advocacy organization co-founded by Charlie Kirk, are reacting with shock and grief after his assassination at a college event in Utah, Wednesday. Chapter Vice President Paul Lewis is hosted a vigil for Kirk at the Talley Student Union in Raleigh. Lewis...

STAYIN’ ALIVE: One Night of the Bee Gees is the ultimate tribute to the brothers Gibbs that offers to their audiences the songs and sights of a full Bee Gees playlist, singing blockbusters such as “Night Fever,” “Jive Talkin’,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “Nights on Broadway,” and “Stayin’ Alive.” In addition, they perform softer poetic ballads such as “I Started a Joke,” “Ma...

Raleigh magazine is out with its annual list of the best 25 restaurants .. Bruce Ferrell gets the delicious details from editor Gina Stephens.

Earlier this week, Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Michael Whatley told a group of pastors that "we don't need a separation of church and state." Bruce Ferrell talked about that and other political topics with David McLennan, political science professor David McLennan.

After months of pushback from neighborhoods, the Raleigh Greenway Committee has reached a recommendation to bring to the Parks Board regarding the Big Branch Greenway project. This route would run straight through the backyards in the Anderson Forest neighborhood, including Andrew Bennington. On Tuesday, Bennington joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his frustration with the process.

After a sweltering start, it’s been a strange finish to summer. Across central North Carolina, there was only one 90-degree day in the month of August. Yet in the opening week of September, there were two days over 90-degrees. It comes after the warmest June and July on record. What can people expect until September 22, when fall officially starts? Wes Hohenstein, meteorologist for CBS17, joined J...

The FBI is among the federal agencies looking into the deadly Aug. 22 knife attack on a Charlotte light rail. In a Sept. 8 social media post, director Kash Patel said the FBI had been investigating the case “from day one.” In the same post, he also told the public to “stay tuned.” State Auditor Dave Boliek has also announced an investigation. Lee Turner, a former Raleigh police officer who is now...

Alex Glover has spent 35 years studying rocks and minerals around the world, and in retirement he chose to live among some of the oldest formations in the U.S. in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. But when Tropical Storm Helene struck last September, the Little Switzerland resident was stunned by the damage it left behind. Now, he’s turning that experience into education—hosting forum...

The U.S. economy showed more signs of weakness in August, adding just 22,000 jobs. The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report also revised earlier numbers, cutting 279,000 jobs from May through July, including a rare payroll decline of 13,000 in June—the first since the pandemic. Mike Walden, N.C. State University Economics Professor Emeritus, joined Jeff Hamlin to break down what the report say...

A dangerous parasite is threatening bee colonies worldwide, putting a vital pollinator at risk. Since honey bees are essential to North Carolina’s largest industry—agriculture—researchers are working urgently to protect them. At UNC Greensboro, Kaira Wagoner and her team are studying ways to defend bees, from the honeycomb to the laboratory. Wagoner joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss efforts to safegua...

North Carolina Central University and Durham Technical Community College are launching a new partnership designed to create smoother pathways into the life sciences industry. The agreement aligns Durham Tech’s Applied Science associate programs with bachelor’s degrees in NCCU’s College of Health and Sciences, allowing students to transfer credits seamlessly and avoid extra coursework. Durham Tech...

A new study reveals that about one in 12 patients who are diagnosed with two or more different types of cancer were born with a mutation in a known cancer risk gene. This discovery could reshape how genetic testing is offered to cancer patients. People with multiple cancer diagnoses are not routinely tested for inherited cancer risk genes. The study’s authors suggest that the elevated frequency of...

Nearly one year since Hurricane Helene, the rebuilding from Hurricane Helene continues. A program called “Ready, Set, Resilience” focuses on ecological, personal and community resilience. It originated in eastern North Carolina, growing out of the need to support Carteret County students and teachers in the wake of two hurricanes following the pandemic. In the wake of Hurricane Helene last fall, t...

State officials say they want Florida to be the first state to end all vaccine mandates for children, including for polio. Health experts warn this goes against science - that decades of data show that vaccines are safe and effective. A new CBS News Poll shows that 74 percent of Americans think government should make vaccines more available, not less. Dr. David Wohl, a clinical scientist at UNC He...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. Mental illnesses are brain disorders that are biologically based medical problems. Untreated, they can cause severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and relating. This results in substantially diminished capacity for dealing with the ordinary demands of life. Amy Brundle with th...

Coming soon...Durham will have a new place for film aficionados, art enthusiasts and everyone in between to watch movies and live events. Owners of Shadowbox Studio, Alex Maness and Jim Haverkamp, plan to open 'Skin and Bones Theater' on Parrish Street in Summer 2026. 'Skin and Bones' will be a place where you can view independent films and documentaries and where filmmakers can showcase their wor...

In the year since Hurricane Helene battered western North Carolina, an educational program has taken root there that teaches resilience to school children. Developed by experts at Duke and NC State along with North Carolina public school teachers, Ready, Set, Resilience focuses on ecological, personal and community resilience. It originated in eastern North Carolina, growing out of the need to sup...

As if it could afford any more adversity, St. Augustine’s University is dealing with the departure of its top executive. Dr. Marcus Burgess submitted his resignation July 16, which went into effect on Sunday. The Board of Trustees said Burgess cited personal reasons for his departure. Williams came aboard in December 2023. Steven Williams is a member of the group Save St. Augustine’s University. H...

Bill Belichick’s arrival in Chapel Hill has meant big business along Franklin Street. North Carolina sold out its season ticket allotment in the middle of summer. There’s lots of Belichick-related merchandise sold by various merchandise shops across downtown Chapel Hill. And then there’s Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery, the home of the UNC football and men’s basketball coach’s shows. Scott...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and treatments that restore functionality after a heart attack are limited. But a new study from biomedical researchers at Duke University shows how a gene therapy they designed restores heart functionality in nonhuman primate models after a heart attack. This is the first demonstration of a gene therapy improving function in post heart atta...

The American Cancer Society estimates that this year there will be 314-thousand new cases of prostate cancer, and 36-thousand deaths. A new study shows the disease is increasing in men of every age, including by about 3 percent per year in those younger than 55 and 6 percent per year in men over 55. Dr. Ray Tan, Associate Professor of Urology at the UNC Department of Health, joined Jeff Hamlin to...

It was a start to the Bill Belichick era that no North Carolina fan will ever forget—no matter how hard they try. TCU rolled into Chapel Hill and handed the Tar Heels a 48-14 loss on Monday night. It was Carolina’s worst home loss in 21 years. Now, there are questions regarding Belichick’s long-term future as a head coach since he’s only eight months younger than the man he replaced last winter, M...

New Numbers are in on Tourism in North Carolina.. Bruce Ferrell finds out more from Witt Tuttle with Visit NC