WPTF Afternoon News

The Duke men’s basketball team is preparing for the Final Four. It’s the 18th trip to basketball’s biggest stage for the Blue Devils, but it’s the first time for Jon Scheyer as a head coach. Freshman Cooper Flagg was named the National Player of the Year and the National Rookie of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches on Monday. Scheyer is one of three players to lead a Final...

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to prevent and eliminate the spread of rabies. Starting this week, Wildlife Services will be distributing the annual oral rabies vaccine for raccoons in Western North Carolina. This oral rabies distribution program typically takes place annually each fall...

It was Canines at the Capitol Day at the General Assembly in Raleigh on Tuesday. Many different types of dogs were on hand, including a Great Dane, Boxer, Golden Retriever, Brittany, Bichon Frise, Siberian Husky, and a Bracco Italiano. Dogs ran agility demos and met visitors. Trainers from the Kennel Club were on hand to talk about responsible dog ownership and answer questions. Sheila Goffe of th...

Zack Moore State Epidemiologist

The Durham Bulls are gearing up to kick off their 30th season at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday night, facing off against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Fresh off being named the 2024 Triple-A Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year, the Bulls are set for an exciting season filled with promotions and fan engagement. Morgan Ensberg returns for his second season as the team’s manager, a...

For the 18th time in program history, the Duke Blue Devils are heading to the Final Four. Their dominant 85-65 victory over Alabama in the East Regional championship showcased a relentless defense that held the Crimson Tide to under 70 points for just the second time all season. With Kon Knueppel leading the way with 21 points, Duke secured its 14th Final Four appearance since 1985—more than any o...

Between the air quality alerts from ongoing wildfires and the thick clouds of pollen blanketing North Carolina, residents across the state are feeling the strain on their lungs. Scientists, meteorologists, and air quality experts are closely monitoring this combination of atmospheric irritants and its effects on public health. Chris Frey, an N.C. State researcher who specializes in human exposure...

Seven Chihuahua mixes—two of them expecting puppies—were recently rescued and brought to Pawfect Match Rescue and Rehabilitation in Raleigh. The dogs were part of a hoarding case, and while the Granville County Sheriff’s Office has not released details due to an ongoing investigation, rescuers like Debbie Sandlin are stepping in to help. Sandlin, who has worked on multiple hoarding cases, says her...

The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee are requesting an investigation into how Trump national security officials used the Signal app to discuss military strikes. Thursday's request ensures some bipartisan scrutiny on an episode President Donald Trump has dismissed as frivolous. Republican committee chair Sen. Roger Wicker and top Democrat Sen. Jack Reed signed onto...

For the first time, North Carolina and Duke will meet in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Tar Heels and the Blue Devils will play in the Sweet 16 in Birmingham, Alabama on Friday afternoon. On top of that, N.C. State will face LSU in the regional semifinals in Spokane, Washington on Friday night. As a whole, it has been a strong time for women’s basketball around the Triangle following...

The Carolina Hurricanes and the Town of Apex will hold a grand opening celebration for two new street hockey rinks at Apex Community Park on Saturday afternoon. The rinks are the result of a partnership between the team and the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund, through which $550,000 was provided to fund the project. The grand opening celebration is open to the public and will feature food trucks, the H...

For a decade, the vibrant mural at the corner of Smith Level Road and U.S. 15-501 in Chapel Hill has become a beloved symbol of UNC basketball and the legendary coach behind it, Dean Smith. Scott Nurkin painted the mural after Dean Smith died in 2015. But now, the mural's future hangs in the balance as the vacant building will be demolished to make way for a new Refuel convenience store. Although...

At the corner of Capital Boulevard and Peace Street in Raleigh, there’s a planned 40-story tower as part of the Smoky Hollow development, with the rezoning approved in 2020. The Raleigh City Council approved the rezoning request for the 1.5-acre parcel, allowing for a 40-story building instead of the original 12 stories. One Raleigh group is against the new building while maintaining they aren’t a...

She was one of the original Daytime divas. Kim Zimmer portrayed Reva Shayne on the Guiding Light for over 25 years and won four Daytime Emmy Awards. She has also starred on television shows “Designing Women” “MacGyver” and “Models, Inc.” as well as the William Hurt film “Body Heat.” This week, Zimmer stars in “The Trip to Bountiful” at Theatre Raleigh. It will appear nightly until April 6. Zimmer...

Hundreds of nurses and nursing students are converging on the North Carolina General Assembly on Wednesday, as part of Nurses Day at the Legislature. The biennial event from the North Carolina Nurses Association is designed to showcase the importance of advocacy for policies that increase access to quality, affordable healthcare. Attendees will gather at the Raleigh Convention Center for an exciti...

Bat pupping season starts soon, and the North Carolina Wildlife Commission is asking people to check their home attics now for bats. The season starts on May 1 and ends July 31. Bat pupping season is when newborn bats are typically born. Since bats are a protected species because of their significance in the ecosystem, it’s illegal to remove a bat or its pups from a structure during this time of t...

Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic. This was reported by the magazine in a story posted online Monday. The National Security Council said the text chain “appears to be authentic.” Atlantic edit...

North Carolina native Neil Frye, who perished aboard the USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor, will finally be laid to rest with full military honors on April 3, 2025. His burial at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery comes after a long and difficult journey to identify his remains—a process that spanned decades and required extensive effort from his family. Denise McCrimmon, a relati...

Uncertainty looms as college students shuffle from one class to the next, following President Donald Trump’s executive order to scale back the U.S. Department of Education. At North Carolina State University, students are particularly concerned about the continuity of their federal aid packages and the potential impact on research programs. Many worry about how these changes could shape their acad...

The Wake Forest Police Department’s first-ever victim advocate is using a unique platform to support those in need. Through her podcast, Victims Vibe , Carly Reavis explores critical topics such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and other family-related issues. Her most recent episodes focus on human trafficking, aiming to raise awareness and provide resources for victims and their families. C...

Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh is set to undergo the largest expansion in its history. The project will introduce a new immersive exhibit and a multipurpose classroom on the first floor, connecting to the popular Around Town and Splash exhibits. On the second floor, a rooftop exhibit will be added next to Moneypalooza , along with upgraded restrooms and refreshed multipurpose spaces throu...

The National Head Start Association reported that many grant recipients have seen delays in accessing approved grant funding since the funding freeze was announced in the second week of the Trump administration. Wanda's Little Hands serves 85 children, offering affordable early childcare to families. McCargo said she relies on state and federal funding to make her programs possible. She's taken ad...

The deadline to get your NC REAL ID is fast approaching. On May 7, a Real ID or a passport will be required to board a plane or enter certain federal buildings or sites. Officials with the State Department of Motor Vehicles say many people already have the Real ID. The Real ID Act was passed by congress in 2005 in response to the 9-11 attacks, but the implementation deadline has been pushed back m...

There's no need for further speculation. McNeese State head men's basketball coach Will Wade will reportedly become the new head coach of N.C. State soon. Wade confirmed the news during a press conference in Providence, Rhode Island this afternoon as McNeese prepares to face Clemson tomorrow. Wade has taken the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament each of his two years at McNeese. It's the first time th...

Local doctors are warning this spring allergy season could be worse than last year. Many experts feel the culprit is pollen from juniper, maple and cypress trees and not so much yet the infamous Bradford pear trees that are blooming all over the Triangle. So what can you do for relief? Aside from the usual prescription and over-the-counter allergy medications, doctors also say there are holistic o...