WPTF Afternoon News

As 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms, CA, were dispersed to Los Angeles to respond to the growing unrest amid recent ICE raids and protests, local immigration attorneys in North Carolina are speaking up about the situation and educating others on their rights and how to navigate the judicial system. Their comments come as social media and other websites can be a hotbed for misinformation that can...

Hours after having its dream of reaching the College World Series shattered, the Duke baseball team is losing its coach. Chris Pollard is leaving to become the new head coach at Virginia. Pollard took Duke to unprecedented success over 13 years, winning a school record 420 games. After missing the NCAA Tournament 55 straight years, he took Duke to four Super Regional appearances and two ACC Tourna...

Although there is always a rotation of fantastic eats at the North Carolina State Fair, a fan favorite got recognition from the Food Network for its rich and tasty infusion. The cooking channel recently curated its list of the best fair food in each state, and it selected the Cheerwine Funnel Cake from Beaver Concessions. The NC-infused dessert by the NC-based vendor uses Cheerwine in both the cak...

President Trump’s dispute with the World’s Richest Man, Elon Musk, has taken various turns over the past week. Musk has threatened to release details about the Epstein files to the public, claiming that Trump is included in them. He has also talked of spending to start a third political party. Trump has made various threats towards Musk, as well. What will be the end result of the dispute between...

Grazing on greens and soaking up the sun, it’s all in a day’s work for green gobbling goats at Dorothea Dix Park. Goats on the Go is teaming with the City of Raleigh Parks Department to clear invasive plants at Dix Park. The hard-working crew of 32 goats is never late to work and can do the job that people and machinery often can’t. Stephen Paul, director of Goats on the Go Raleigh-Durham, moved f...

Feeding America recently released its 2025 “Map the Meal Gap” study on food insecurity across the nation and at a local level. It shows North Carolina had a higher food insecurity rate than the national average, a continuing trend over the past few years. While the study was released in 2025, the data highlighted is from 2023. Food pantries through organizations like Celebration Church in Wake Cou...

A new bipartisan poll released by the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease shows strong support among American voters for FDA-approved vaccines, regardless of political affiliation. The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners, highlights growing concern over declining childhood vaccination rates and emphasizes the public’s belief in the importance of vaccines t...

Duke University is bracing for more voluntary layoffs and possibly involuntary separations throughout the summer, as it faces major financial pressures tied to changes in federal funding. In a recent message to the campus, Duke President Vincent Price described the funding cuts as having “dire implications” for the university’s operations and workforce. Michael Hardt, a professor at Duke and a rep...

Mitch Kokai, spokesperson for the John Locke Foundation, joined Jeff Hamlin to analyze the re-election of Jason Simmons as Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party. Simmons, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured 53% of the vote against challenger Brooke McGowan at the GOP convention in Greensboro, where roughly 1,600 delegates cast ballots. Kokai explained that Simmons' victory re...

Dave Glenn, veteran college sportswriter from the North Carolina Sports Network, joined Jeff Hamlin to break down the sweeping changes in college athletics following Judge Claudia Wilken’s landmark ruling. The approved settlement allows NCAA Division I schools to directly compensate athletes—something long debated but never before legally permitted. Glenn emphasized that this marks a turning point...

The North Carolina Tar Heels are back in the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels will face Arizona in a best-of-three series at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill starting on Friday at noon. North Carolina is going for ninth appearance in the College World Series in the last 20 years. Head coach Scott Forbes, in his fifth season, has quickly established the Tar Heels as among the pre...

As summer approaches, U.S. tariffs on imported goods are set to hit American wallets hard. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates tariffs could cost the average American household around $4,000 a year, and that’s because so many products come from outside of the U.S., especially many summertime staples. Grills and grill utensils, sunscreen, swimming and wading pools, and fishing gear is expected t...

Heavier rainfall from tropical systems affecting North Carolina can have many dangerous impacts around the state. Just last year, Helene set the new flood of record for Asheville and other communities around the mountains. That was not the only historic rainfall event from a tropical system in North Carolina in 2024. Scientists, who study the impacts of storms, say the trend of heavier rain is not...

The number of antisemitic acts in North Carolina increased for the second straight year, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The organization recorded 175 incidents of antisemitism in the state in 2024, including 140 incidents of harassment, 33 incidents of vandalism and two incidents of assault. The findings show the number of incidents increased compared with 2023 when 151 acts of antisemit...

Even the most optimistic Duke fan would have had a hard time imaging the Blue Devils host a game in the Super Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. But that’s what will happen, for the first time ever, this weekend at Jack Coombs Field in Durham. A season that started with a three-game sweep against Stanford could lead to the Blue Devils going to the College World Series for the firs...

A house legislative committee approved a bill allowing most citizens over the age of 18 to carry concealed weapons. The Senate generated bill removes permitting requirements along with lowering the age. Opponents say that lowering the age -- and removing permitting requirements -- would lead to more gun incidents. The bill was approved by a party line 6-5 vote and heads now to the house rules comm...

The Trump Administration has ended a prominent HIV vaccine development program led by Duke University researchers, a move that school said “represents an enormous setback” for creating a vaccine to fight the cause of AIDS. Researchers were notified on Friday that the Department of Health and Human Services would not renew two National Institutes of Health grant, totaling $258 million, for the Duke...

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is warning anglers about an invasive fish that is being found across the state. The commission announced in April the Alabama bass are “now in more rivers and lakes than ever before.” Alabama bass were first found in Lake Norman and Lake Chatuge in the 1980s. They slowly started spreading to the Piedmont and were found in the coastal areas earlier t...

The arrival of June brings a wide array of sports events. Thousands of people from around the world will gather at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary for the Soccer Tournament. This year’s event will be the biggest in the event’s three-year history. There will be an expanded women’s tournament, along with the men’s tournament. Each competition will lead to a $1 million prize for the winners. Meanwhile at...

From its coast to its mountains, North Carolina has much to offer, including a spot for retirees to settle down. With the Tar Heel State consistently ranks in the top states to retire, special care will be needed to accommodate this age group like geriatricians, but a national shortage in this field may not keep up with the demand. Everyone has a reason to pursue a future career, including Tamara...

It has been one year since professional golfer and Raleigh native Grayson Murray died by suicide at the age of 30. Last weekend, during the UNC Health Championship at Raleigh Country Club, Murray's parents, Terry and Eric Murray, gathered with supporters to honor their son with a ceremonial tee time. Grayson had been open about his struggles with addiction and depression. Since his death in May 20...

Finding a place to live can be hard enough, but for those going through a tragedy or struggling financially it's even harder. And furnishing that home can sometimes seem downright impossible. For the last 15 years, a nonprofit in North Carolina, The Green Chair Project, has helped vulnerable families fill their empty homes, giving them a new start. Rae Marie Czuhai, CEO of the Green Chair Project,...

Amy Beros joined Jeff Hamlin to raise concern about looming federal funding cuts that could drastically impact hunger relief efforts across the state. These cuts are part of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," recently passed by the House and now under consideration in the Senate. Beros explained that approximately 1.6 million North Carolinians currently face food insecurity, and 1.4 million depend on...

Wildfires burning across several Canadian provinces, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, are producing vast amounts of smoke that are traveling far beyond their points of origin. Due to the intense heat generated by these fires, smoke and ash are lifted high into the atmosphere, where upper-level winds carry them across long distances. In recent days, some of that smok...

HB 430 and Senate Bill 318, collectively known as Solly’s Law, were introduced in March to curb the growing youth vaping epidemic in North Carolina. These bills aim to protect minors from the harmful health effects of nicotine by tightening regulations around e-cigarette sales and access. Despite North Carolina ranking 6th nationally for youth vaping rates, both bills remain stalled in their respe...