WPTF Afternoon News

Music enthusiasts gathered at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater for the ‘Music for the Mountains’ benefit concert, uniting to support Western North Carolina. The event, organized by Band Together, raised over $1 million to aid the region, drawing a crowd of passionate music lovers and supporters. Thorne Daubenspeck, Executive Director of Band Together, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the inspiration be...

The North Carolina State Fair concluded on Sunday, drawing hundreds of thousands to Raleigh for an 11-day celebration of agriculture, food, and entertainment. Perfect fall weather greeted fairgoers throughout most of the event, with the highest turnout on Saturday at over 125,000 attendees. Despite a rainy final day, spirits remained high as guests enjoyed the last of this year’s attractions. Heat...

During a recent rally at Madison Square Garden, former President Donald Trump and his supporters drew criticism for a series of racially charged and inflammatory statements targeting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Trump’s childhood friend David Rem labeled Harris as "the Antichrist" and "the devil," while businessman Grant Cardone disparaged her with comments that further fueled controversy. Ju...

Brenda Pollard

Torry Crass

John Holden

An organization is working to build community and improve well being through adaptive and inclusive movement. The organization has been recognized for it’s work with cancer survivors and veterans. Jon Champion talks with the Executive Director of ComMotion NC Robin Mccall.

In a recent CNN town hall, Vice President Kamala Harris declared that she believes Donald Trump "is a fascist," following claims by his former chief of staff John Kelly that Trump praised Adolf Hitler while in office. Jaime Harrison, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, joined Jon Champion to discuss Harris’ strong statements, the impact of Kelly’s revelations, and the broader implicatio...

With La Niña weather patterns expected to bring another warmer-than-average winter to North Carolina, many are wondering if snow will still make an appearance. While Raleigh continues to face a dry spell, Corey Davis, Assistant State Climatologist, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the current weather conditions, the impact of La Niña, and what the Farmers' Almanacs are pred...

Former President Barack Obama is gearing up for his first campaign rally of the 2024 election cycle in Charlotte, supporting the Harris-Walz ticket. As the rally approaches, Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to talk about Obama’s involvement, Kamala Harris’s rallies in North Carolina, and how these events are energizing Democratic voters in key swing s...

As the 2024 presidential contest speeds to its conclusion, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are embracing wildly different strategies. Both are racing to energize the coalitions they need to win the presidency on Nov. 5. Trump’s team has largely abandoned traditional efforts to target moderate voters in the final days before the election. His campaign is focusing instead on his b...

Raleigh-Durham International Airport continues to break records, with September seeing over 1.27 million travelers, marking a 2.3% increase from the same month last year. Labor Day travel alone set a new benchmark, with over 188,000 passengers passing through the airport. RDU spokesperson Stephanie Hawco joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the airport’s growing popularity and...

Following the release of audio by The New York Times in which Retired General John Kelly claims that former President Donald Trump praised Hitler, national security expert Marilyn Quagliotti joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the latest controversy. With Trump's alleged comments raising concerns about leadership and loyalty, Quagliotti provided her perspective on the situatio...

A new High Point University Poll reveals a tight race for the presidency in North Carolina, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump nearly tied among registered voters. The race for governor shows a more decisive lead, with Democrat Josh Stein pulling ahead of Republican Mark Robinson. Martin Kifer, Director of the High Point University Polling, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to break d...

With Election Day just two weeks away, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are focusing on Latino voters as they promote their economic policies. Vice President Harris emphasized her plans to expand apprenticeships and remove certain degree requirements in a Telemundo interview, while Trump criticized her lack of public events during a Latino roundtable in Doral, Florida. Tom Campbell joined Jeff...

Heather Overton, Assistant Director of Public Affairs with the N.C. Department of Agriculture, joined Jeff Hamlin to highlight the upcoming Military Appreciation Day at the N.C. State Fair. Wednesday’s events will include a military parade, a special morning program, and concerts to honor the service of U.S. military members. Listen to learn about the significance of the day, with remarks from Agr...

Chris Hoffman with Wake County Fire Services shared his experience after returning from recovery efforts in the mountains, where Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation. He described the critical work first responders carried out, from overseeing individual check-ups to ensuring that help reached those most in need. Hoffman joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the challenges faced by local communi...

Voter turnout in North Carolina is surpassing levels from the 2020 presidential election, with over a million ballots cast in the early days of voting, according to the State Board of Elections. Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the significance of early voting and share the trends he’s observed across the nation as the 2024 general election conti...

Andy Jackson, Director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to analyze the early voting numbers in North Carolina’s 2024 general election. With over a million ballots cast in just four days, the state’s early voting numbers represent about 13% of its registered voters. Jackson discussed how these numbers compare to p...

Stephen Igoe from HoisttheColours.com joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the firing of East Carolina football coach Mike Houston. After six seasons and a 27-38 record, Houston's tenure ended following a 45-28 loss to Army. Igoe reflected on Houston's highs, including the 2022 Birmingham Bowl victory, and the lows, like recent losses to in-state rivals and finishing last in th...

Talley Wells, Executive Director of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to address the critical infrastructure gaps revealed by Hurricane Helene. The conversation centered on the challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities, especially in rural areas of Western North Carolina. Wells highlighted how a lack of bac...

Jon Champion talks with Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They discuss voter engagement and what’s at stake in this election cycle ahead of a Souls to the Polls event in Durham Sunday October 20th at 11am at St. Joseph AME Church.

Hosted by Jon Champion, Dr. Andrew Phillips from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) delves into the challenges local utilities face from extreme weather events like Hurricanes Haleen and Milton. Dr. Phillips highlights the need to harden infrastructure and speed up recovery times with cutting-edge technology such as drones and satellites for damage assessment. He also explores how the gr...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and Cary Town Councilmember Sarika Bansal joined Anthony DeHart to discuss the Cary bond issue on the ballot, covering vital investments in parks, recreation, and community centers. Rao and Bansal explored the bond’s potential to boost the local economy by creating jobs and improving public spaces, from greenways to the new Sports and Recreation Community Cent...

As the national debt reaches unprecedented levels, Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker joined Anthony DeHart for an in-depth discussion on how the debt crisis will shape the 2024 presidential race. Walker emphasized the urgent need for a fiscal plan and critiqued both major candidates for neglecting this crucial issue. He also delved into solution...