WPTF Afternoon News

Tropical Storm Chantal tore through central North Carolina, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Alamance, Orange, Chatham, Durham, and Person Counties were all hit hard, with major flooding forcing the shutdown of Interstate 85/40 in Mebane and triggering voluntary evacuations near Lake Michael Dam. As residents begin to assess the damage, uncertainty still surrounds the full impact on hom...

As North Carolina enters the heart of the summer vacation period, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is partnering with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to underscore critical safety measures focusing on holiday travel safety and the dangers of vehicular heatstroke. Mark Ezell, Director of the Greater Highway Safety Program, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the steps his department is re...

A new study published in Nature reveals that misleading narratives often spread not just through unreliable sources, but also through articles from reputable news outlets -- especially when those articles are shared by users who also post “fake” news. The findings suggest that users may be selectively sharing mainstream news stories to lend credibility and reach to misleading claims circulating on...

The North Carolina Nurses Association is celebrating the passage of legislation that includes protections for operating room nurses from toxic surgical smoke. The language from HB390: Alleviate the Dangers of Surgical Smoke was signed by Governor Josh Stein on July 1 as part of a larger healthcare package and will take effect January 1, 2026. This language, championed by NCNA nurse legislators Rep...

Free agency is underway in the National Hockey League and the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to get bigger and meaner. On Tuesday, they acquired 6-foot-5 defenseman K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers and signed him to an 8-year contract. Carolina also signed left winger Logan Stankoven to an eight-year contract extension worth $6 million annually. Meanwhile, defensemen Brent Burns and Dmitr...

Holden Bierman started his own company at 12 years old out of Holly Springs. Now 17, he is founder and chief executive of Coastal Cool, a swimwear line that turns discarded plastic bottles into quick-dry board shorts and bikinis and pays to remove a pound of ocean trash for every item sold. The idea took shape on Carolina Beach, where his family spent long stretches of 2020. Bierman joined Jeff Ha...

September marks 24 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. The attacks not only took thousands of lives and changed the nation, fallout effects are still being seen two decades later. For years, the main resource of help for people exposed to the contaminated air is the World Trade Center Health Program, helping those showing conditions and diseases identified by Congress related to 9/11. However, recen...

A University of North Carolina researcher is helping save tiger sharks hallway around the world with the help from former shark fishers. From an early age, Chelsea Black always wanted to work with sharks. It’s her love for sharks that took her to Indonesia. In 2022, Black led the first team to ever satellite tag and track tiger sharks in Indonesia. The data collected shows there’s a hotspot of tig...

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are now split between the bank accounts of over a dozen organizations in Durham that are focused on empowering youth while preventing crime involving children. City leaders said the victims and the suspects in serious crimes across Durham are getting younger. Most recently, a 15-year-old girl is now recovering from injuries after a shooting over the weekend. Anjane...

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham has agreed to a plan for his successor. Steve Newmark, president of Roush Fenway Keslowski Racing, will become Carolina's new athletic director. Bubba Cunningham, who has been in the role since 2011, has signed a two-year extension and will transition to the role as senior advisor to the chancellor. He will serve as AD for the upcoming academic year. Newmark...

If you are looking to get your hands on some delicious food and listen to some great music for the Fourth of July, there is an event taking place at the State Farmers Market this Friday. The Fourth of July Food Truck Rodeo will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday. People will be able to enjoy music, face painting, inflatables, and line dancing at the farmers market. Monica Wood, Marketing Specia...

To beat the summer heat, The Salvation Army of Wake County is once again partnering with Westlake Ace Hardware to help families in need. On Wednesday, the Salvation Army will pick up 75 donated box fans from Westlake Ace Hardware in Cary. These fans—made possible through customer donations during a recent round-up campaign—will be distributed to individuals and families in need across Wake County....

In 1996, the New World Order took professional wrestling by storm. It led to World Championship Wrestling overtaking the World Wrestling Federation in popularity and led to mainstream attention in the sports world. But it didn’t last. Less than five years after the group’s introduction, WCW went from unprecedented popularity to being defunct amid heavy financial losses. The legacy of the N.W.O is...

It’s a Fourth of July tradition across Durham. The Festival for the Eno starts on Friday and continues Saturday in northern Durham. The 46th annual Festival for the Eno features live music, a juried craft show, food, and fun on the river. Each year since 1980 the Eno River Association has presented the Festival for the Eno to draw thousands of folks to the shaded banks on the Eno River to sing dan...

Republican Senator Thom Tillis’ announcement that he will not seek re-election opens up plenty of speculation about who will run for his seat. His decision creates a political opportunity for Democrats seeking to bolster their numbers in the 2026 midterm elections, creating a wide-open Senate race in a state that has long been a contested battleground. It could also make Tillis a wild card in a pa...

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says he won't seek reelection. That news Sunday comes one day after he announced his opposition to President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package because of its reductions to health care programs. The announcement from the two-term senator surprised senior Republicans with its timing, but not necessarily the substance. Tillis had planned...

The 4th of July is known to be one of the most dangerous holidays for pets. Dr. Marta LaColla joined Jon Champion to discuss how we can protect our pets during this holiday, as well as throughout the hot summer months.

A controversial ban has been blocked. The House Republican Caucus has decided not to move forward with a vote on House Bill 442 which would ban shrimp trawling in North Carolina. Members of the Southern Shrimp Alliance say the bill would have gone against a recent executive order from President Trump aimed to revitalize the country’s seafood industry. Bill supporters say inshore trawling has harmf...

Are you dreading traveling for the July 4th weekend? Waiting in line at airport security, tossing out liquids you forgot you had? A Duke University spinout called Quadridox is developing new airport scanners that could make security faster and safer – all while allowing you to keep your water bottle. With contracts from the Department of Homeland Security, this startup is aiming to trial their cut...

The stretch of sweltering temps has emergency doctors keeping a close eye out for heat-related injuries. So far this month, WakeMed has treated at least 45 patients for heat-related illnesses. Dr. Ryan Lamb says seeing temps like these for multiple days in a row can be dangerous. He says there are some signs you should look out for. Lamb joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss safety tips.

It never fails when it's hot; that's when you have a problem with your air conditioner. HVAC technicians work long hours in this heat to get systems back up and running. HVAC repairs can be costly, so it's key to do your research before you hire anyone. Chris Distel, with Newcomb and Company, says his technicians are working long hours to keep up with the high demand of service calls, and that the...

The political fallout of Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran remains to be seen. Trump is insisting that U.S. strikes delivered a crushing blow to Iran’s nuclear program. That's despite a preliminary American intelligence assessment suggesting that the assault inflicted only a marginal setback. The leaked intelligence assessment said Iran suffered a delay of only a few months. Chris Cooper, Weste...

It’s summertime. There continues to be lots of movement in regards to college sports conference realignment. Last week, a report surfaced that higher-up with the Sun Belt Conference have reached out to East Carolina to gauge their interest in leaving the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates have played in the American since 2014. For virtually its entire modern history, East Carolina has neve...

A Wake County agency is helping seniors stay cool and making sure they’re fed through the extreme heat. The agency is supporting the elderly through their Meals on Wheels program--and through checking in on those who may be socially isolated. The council says it reaches almost 400 seniors each weekday through its nutrition program alone. But it also provides safety checks for seniors who are socia...

A fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel appears to be holding. The deal initially faltered, and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration Tuesday with both sides, saying they have fought “for so long and so hard” that they do not know what they are doing. Israel had earlier accused Iran of launching missiles into its airspace after the truce was supposed to take effect. Mac McCorkle, a...