WPTF Afternoon News

There is a new chapter in the still-undecided race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. A federal judge has blocked the start of a massive ballot review period. The federal appeals court stopped the state elections board from contacting thousands of military and overseas voters who ballots were called in to question. Democrat Allison Riggs leads the race by 734 votes, but Republican Jef...

North Carolina’s largest craft beer festival kicks off this Friday in downtown Raleigh. Brewgaloo 2025 is a two-day festival featuring over 110 craft breweries from around North Carolina. The event was recently voted #1 Best Beer Festival two years in a row by USA Today’s 10 Best. At least 27 local food trucks will participate on Friday. Saturday will feature more than 30 local food trucks. You ca...

A hiker’s recent death along the Blue Ridge Parkway is raising new concerns about staffing shortfalls and public safety on one of the country’s most visited national park units. 40-year-old Jie Huang of Plymouth died last Friday. His death is renewing concerns about trail safety and staffing as visitation climbs and the National Park Service faces budget and personnel cuts. Brian Bonville formerly...

The Salvation Army of Wake County is partnering with Feed the Children and Concord Hospitality to provide food and other supplies to 400 families in need in the community. Each family will receive a 25-lb box of food and a 15-lb box of hygiene essentials plus additional products. It’s going to happen this Friday. The program is sponsored by Concord Hospitality as part of its annual Share Day. Chri...

Chatham County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its brand-new Arts Center, set for Saturday, May 17. The celebration will take place at the new Arts Center located at 964 East Street in Pittsboro, NC. Guests are invited to enjoy a ribbon cutting ceremony, hands-on arts and crafts, live demonstrations, food, and fun for the entire family. Visit...

The White House has expressed support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following media reports that he shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother. President Donald Trump on Monday called it “fake news” and pointed to what he called disgruntled workers. The administration's posture is meant to hold the line against Democratic demands for...

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the Catholic Church, has died at age 88. Known for his humility and deep concern for the poor, Francis brought a new tone to the Vatican—one that resonated with many but stirred controversy among conservatives. His outspoken views on issues like capitalism, climate change, and social justice marked a significant departur...

Thayer Coggin is preparing for liftoff at the Spring 2025 High Point Furniture Market with the debut of its latest eye-catching piece: the UFO Ottoman , designed by Rick Lee. Drawing inspiration from mid-century comic books and sci-fi classics like The Day the Earth Stood Still and Flying Saucer , the ottoman delivers a whimsical yet sophisticated statement piece. The UFO Ottoman comes in two size...

Pope Francis broke centuries of tradition from the moment he stepped onto the world stage. As the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pontiff, and the first to take the name Francis—after St. Francis of Assisi—he symbolized a shift toward humility, service, and care for the marginalized. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant pa...

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the modern Catholic Church, has died at age 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he was known for his humility, compassion for the poor, and outspoken views on issues like capitalism and climate change. From the moment of his election, Francis signaled a new direction for the papacy — one focused on inclusivity a...

A historic center in Durham is losing thousands in federal funds as the Trump Administration reshapes federal spending. The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice is losing $330,000 in grant money awarded to the center. The center honors the life and legacy of longtime Durham resident, human rights and LGBTQ+ activist Reverend Doctor Pauli Murray. The Trump Administration says the cent...

A local high school student is making a name for himself in business. He’s the CEO of a swimwear company with a mission to help clean up the ocean. Forget your typical after-school job; 17-year-old Holden Bierman is running his own business. The Fuquay-Varina High School junior is the founder and CEO of Coastal Cool an online swimwear company focused on sustainability. He started the business back...

Afghan refugees in the United States, fleeing religious persecution, are worried they'll have to return to a country where their lives could be in danger. Immigrants from Afghanistan have Temporary Protected Status, which allows citizens of certain countries legal status to be in the United States if it is too dangerous for them to return home. Mary Lynn Tedesco is an immigration attorney based ou...

Researchers from the Duke University School of Medicine, Pratt School of Engineering and Duke Department of Biology are studying post-disaster fungal growth in Black Mountain, North Carolina, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. The newly formed team of Duke researchers called Climate and Fungi is working to understand how these fungal communities develop and what they mean for human...

Recent tariff announcements and policy shifts have sent the stock market on a rollercoaster, leaving investors and everyday observers wondering what’s coming next. While the ups and downs may seem chaotic, Richard Warr, associate dean for faculty research and professor of finance at N.C. State’s Poole College of Management, says large market swings are not unusual — and in some cases, even expecte...

It’s been a busy (and profitable) spring for sports in Raleigh. From the NCAA Tournament drawing fans to watch Duke and UConn at the Lenovo Center, to the N.C. State women’s team hosting games at Reynolds Coliseum, the city has been buzzing with athletic action. And with the Carolina Hurricanes heading into their seventh straight Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance, the momentum shows no signs of slow...

Orange County officials are taking a major step forward in expanding mental health resources in the region. A 5-acre site near the UNC Hospitals campus in Hillsborough has been identified for a proposed behavioral health facility that would serve residents of all ages, starting as young as four. In addition to 24-hour urgent care, the center would include a healing garden, courtyard, and a resourc...

April 15 may be known as Tax Day, but for many in the Triangle and beyond-it has also become a day dedicated to kindness, connection and community. The Raj Mehta Day of Good is held annually on April 15 in memory of Raj Mehta, organized by his sister, Pooja Mehta, to honor what would have been his birthday. Raj Mehta died by suicide in March 2020. He was an engineering student at Duke University w...

One of the largest recreational swim leagues in North Carolina and the country is making some major changes when it comes to transgender athletes being able to swim and compete in the gender they identify with. The head of the Triangle Swimming Association admits this probably only impacts five-to-ten transgender swimmers out of around 13,000 representing almost 90 teams around the Triangle. But i...

Dozens of students and Chapel Hill residents marched Monday afternoon, calling on the University of North Carolina to stop burning coal at its campus cogeneration plant, citing public health risks, environmental injustice and broken climate promises. Led by the Sunrise Movement at UNC-Chapel Hill, the protest started at Granville Towers and ended outside the Cameron Avenue Cogeneration Facility, a...

The race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court — the last undecided contest in the nation from the 2024 election — is far from over. The court ruled Friday that of the 65,000 ballots Judge Jefferson Griffin initially contested, the court ruled that approximately 60,000 ballots with “incomplete registration” cannot be discarded. However, the justices ordered that around 260 ballots cast by...

With spring in full swing and summer right around the corner, public health officials are reminding North Carolinians to be cautious about ticks and mosquitoes. In 2024 alone, the state has already reported more than 900 cases of illnesses tied to these pesky biters. To help curb the spread, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is relaunching its “Fight the Bite” campaign to...

After more than a decade of silence, the engines will once again roar at Rockingham Speedway. For the first time since 2013, NASCAR racing is returning to Richmond County as the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series roll into town on Easter weekend. The revival comes after years of effort from local leaders and a major boost in state funding — a $9 million allocation approved in 2021 as part o...

The sports community in Wendell is gearing up for an exciting new chapter. NC Sports Con, the first event of its kind in North Carolina, is set to make its debut — and it promises to be a game changer. Presented by WakeMed, the convention aims to bring together fans, athletes, collectors, teams, and industry pros for a weekend dedicated to all things sports. Brian Batchelor, the co-organizer of NC...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to give us an update on everything happening in Morrisville