WPTF Afternoon News

The Raleigh Area Children’s Theater, an award-winning youth theatre program, is merging with Theatre Raleigh, the region's premier professional, nonprofit theatre company renown for showcasing Broadway talent in the Triangle. The merger marks a significant milestone by creating Raleigh’s only youth training program directly affiliated with a professional theater. Founded in 2012 by director Blaire...

There are many unique New Year’s Eve celebrations going on across North Carolina. In Vance County, they started a new tradition on Tuesday. Vance County Tourism held a special New Year’s Eve celebration at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park to “test the waters” for the inaugural Catfish Drop. The catfish was created by Rougemont artist Christy Stainback who joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon...

The incoming Trump administration is grappling with the future of H1B visas, which are issued to highly skilled immigrant workers. While tech companies and big businesses back the program, some Trump supporters advocate for stricter immigration limits. North Carolina, particularly the Triangle, is a leading hub for these visas, attracting talent from countries like India and South Asia. Steve Rao...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao, who worked alongside Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center, reflected on the former president’s remarkable legacy following his passing at age 100. After leaving the White House in 1980, Carter dedicated decades to global humanitarian efforts, including leading a campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease, which afflicted 3.5 million of the world’s poorest people...

In 1976, Jimmy Carter faced intense media scrutiny as a devout Southern Baptist presidential candidate, which escalated when he candidly discussed sex and sin in Playboy magazine. Decades later, as Carter received hospice care at his south-Georgia home, his interviewer, Robert Scheer, reflected on how Carter's sincerity was overshadowed by the pressures of a contentious campaign. Duke University P...

John Aldrich fondly recalls his 2014 trip to China with former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29 at age 100. As part of the Carter Center’s efforts to support fair elections in the communist nation, Aldrich witnessed Carter’s enduring commitment to democracy. To reflect on Carter’s legacy, including his time in office during an era marked by Watergate, Vietnam, and global tens...

Jeff and Steve chat with Raleigh City Council Member Jonathan Melton about the 2024 elections, Raleigh’s downtown projects, Bus Rapid Transit expansion, and plans to support housing, small businesses, and remote work opportunities in 2025.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the first draft of the 2025-29 conferences realignment on December 17. For the first time in its history, the NCHSAA will have eight classifications of member schools with the largest class, 8A, having the 32 largest schools in the state by population. The 1A though 7A classes will be evenly divided and have just under 60 schools apiece....

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah coincide on December 25, 2024. This unique overlap, known as Chrismukkah, celebrates shared values of light, love and unity as Raleigh's Jewish and Christian communities embrace interfaith traditions. Known as “Chrismukkah,” the fusion of Jewish and Christian holiday tradition dates back to 19th-century Germany, where...

President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, reducing their punishments to life imprisonment. The move comes just weeks before Donald Trump, a vocal advocate for expanding capital punishment, takes office. Gretchen Engel, Executive Director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the significance of Biden’s decision a...

Did you know North Carolina has its own Christmas town, a 200-year-old Moravian bakery serving timeless gingerbread, and the state’s largest living Christmas tree? From festive flotillas on the Atlantic to traditional Appalachian celebrations, the state is rich with unique holiday customs spanning the mountains to the coast. Heather Leah, a historian and creator, joined Jeff Hamlin to share her in...

Wake County and community leaders gathered Saturday night to honor over 40 individuals who lost their lives to homelessness in the past year. During the memorial, a rose, candle, and chair were placed for each of the 46 names read aloud — with one additional name added. Caroline Bond, an organizer of the event, reflected on its significance and joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how this annual traditi...

The Durham Rescue Mission hosted its 47th annual Christmas community dinner and toy giveaway on Monday, spreading holiday cheer to families in need. Each child received three toys, while adults had the chance to win grand prizes like Smart TVs, Nintendo Switches, Chromebooks, and bicycles. Reverend Rob Tart, President of the Durham Rescue Mission, joined Jeff Hamlin to share more about this year’s...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and NC Secretary of Technology Jim Weaver explore generative AI, cybersecurity advancements, and efforts to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina. Highlights include AI’s role in government, workforce training, broadband expansion, and Secretary Weaver’s reflections on his impactful tenure. Dive into the future of innovation in this thought-provoking dis...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao joins Anthony DeHart to break down key national political developments, including the potential government shutdown and what Trump 2.0 could mean for the economy, foreign policy, and everyday Americans. Rao also reflects on global shifts in leadership, the rise of populism, and the future of both major political parties. On a lighter...

Anthony DeHart hosts Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao to discuss Infosys’ failure to meet job creation targets in Wake County, the future of economic incentives, and how North Carolina can support startups and entrepreneurs.

What will the legacy of Governor Roy Cooper be as he prepares to leave office? Cooper dealt with House Bill 2 during the early days of his first term as governor. As he was running for re-election, he led North Carolina through the dark days of the pandemic, where Dr. Mandy Cohen rose from a statewide spokesperson to a national figure. After he won re-election, Cooper became a prominent figure in...

The holidays are here and that means decking the halls and branches of a North Carolina Fraser Fir. North Carolina is second in the nation in Christmas tree production, and that beautiful, Fraser Fir grows best in the southern Appalachian mountains. So what happens as our changing climate changes the climate in which our trees can thrive? Justin Whitehill is the Director of the Christmas Tree Gene...

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence recently issued its latest report card for gun safety law and gave North Carolina a C-minus. The report notes there was some progress. The Center is pushing for what's often known as a Red Flag Law to temporarily restrict someone's access to firearms, as well as investments in community intervention programs. Erin Earp, a Senior Policy Attorney at Gi...

Governor Roy Cooper delivered his final speech as Governor in his home of Nash County Wednesday morning. Cooper first became governor in 2016 and is finishing his second term in office before Governor-elect Josh Stein takes over in January. In his address, Cooper recalled that he first took office during a time of strife in the state. He said he wanted to restore the people's faith in the governme...

It was a case that divided the Triangle area in 2006 I’m talking about the Duke Lacrosse case when a young exotic dancer said and college student a student alleged that she had been raped at the Durham residence of two of the team's captains, in March of 2006. Investigation and resolution of the case sparked public discussion of racism, sexual violence, media bias, and due process on campuses. The...

Jon Champion interviews Phillip Gibson, NC Radon Coordinator, to discuss radon, a radioactive gas that poses a significant lung cancer risk when concentrated in homes and buildings. They cover recent data revealing high radon levels in 77 NC counties, the importance of testing air and water for radon, and how North Carolinians can access free or affordable test kits during Radon Action Month in Ja...

Jeff Hamlin speaks with Steve Rao live from Nairobi, Kenya, where he reflects on his visit, the energy of Kenya’s Independence Day, and what North Carolina can learn from Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities.

Jon Champion interviews Shelvia Dancy, a former reporter and current Professor of Digital Journalism and Media Law at UNC's Hussman School of Journalism. They discuss the challenges of covering the Duke Lacrosse case, the national media frenzy, and the ethical responsibilities of journalists in the digital age. Shelvia shares her reflections on Crystal Mangum’s recent apology and lessons learned f...

Jon Champion interviews Katarina DePasquale, host of Let's Talk with Kat , who recently secured an exclusive interview with Crystal Mangum. Mangum, known for falsely accusing Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006, confessed to lying about the allegations and issued a public apology through the podcast. DePasquale discusses the context of the interview, public reaction, and the importance of lookin...