WPTF Afternoon News

Jennifer Gibson, Associate Executive Director of the Foundation of Hope, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the upcoming 36th annual Walk for Hope at the Angus Barn in Raleigh. The Foundation of Hope is dedicated to funding cutting-edge research at UNC aimed at understanding and treating mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, schiz...

Olivia Troye, a former national security official in the Trump administration and now part of Republicans for Kamala Harris, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News. Troye shared insights from her experience working in national security and homeland security at the National Counterterrorism Center, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and the DHS Offi...

Tamara Federici, a gifted writer and podcaster, joined Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News to share her firsthand experiences during Tropical Storm Helene in Asheville. Tamara described the storm's unexpected intensity and the emotional toll it took on the local community. Despite minimal preparation, the devastation was severe, leaving neighborhoods without power, water, or communication. She...

UNC Children's Hospital received a prestigious honor once again, ranking among the nation's top children's hospitals for the 16th consecutive year, as reported by US News and World Report. The hospital is nationally ranked in nine out of eleven pediatric specialties for 2024-2025. Dr. Stephanie Davis, Physician in Chief at UNC Children's Hospital, joined Jon Champion to discuss the significance of...

Doug Roberts, founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation, discussed the critical issues facing education superintendents across the nation. He highlighted the alarming turnover rates among school leaders and the challenges stemming from political pressures that distract from essential educational goals. Doug shared insights on how the Institute supports superintendents in problem-so...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao, along with Sachin Joshi, President of Hum Sub, joined Anthony DeHart to highlight the cultural significance of the annual Hum Sub Diwali celebration. Joshi discussed Hum Sub’s 24-year mission of promoting Indian culture in the RTP area through events like Diwali, Holi, and Basant Bahaar. This year’s Hum Sub Diwali event will take pla...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao, along with Dr. Arvin Shah from the Heritage India Association, joined Anthony DeHart to discuss the upcoming unveiling of a new statue of Mohandas K. Gandhi in Morrisville. Dr. Shah explained that the idea for the statue was inspired by a 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. event in Raleigh. He also detailed the challenges faced in raising f...

Jason Kanawati-Stephany from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the organization's efforts to assist residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. With thousands of people still without power and no access to food or cell phone service, the Food Bank has launched a fundraiser aimed at providing critical relief to those in the hard...

Manoj Pandya, president of the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC), discussed the organization’s response to the recent disaster in Western North Carolina. Following the onset of the crisis, HSNC quickly mobilized its resources, appealing to the community for donations of essential supplies like water, diapers, and food. Within days, they had collected enough materials to fill two truckloads, w...

Ileana Rodriguez from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the exciting events of Downtown Raleigh's Restaurant Week. The week-long celebration highlights the exceptional offerings from over 25 participating restaurants across the city’s ever-expanding footprint. Ileana shared details on lunch and dinner specials, as well as specially priced three-...

The Vice-Presidential debate between Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Republican Ohio Senator J.D. Vance evoked a calmer era of American politics. During the debate, both candidates criticized their running mates and aimed to address vulnerabilities in their campaigns amid growing concerns over a potential regional war in the Middle East and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Za...

The Greater Raleigh area has become a powerhouse for hosting national sports events, and its reputation continues to grow. Since 2000, the area has hosted 77 National Championship events, with the Town of Cary playing a major role by hosting 38 NCAA National Championships since 2003. This trend will continue, as the NCAA announced that Cary will host six National Championships in men’s and women’s...

Hurricane Helene has devastated communities and colleges across western North Carolina, but the region's community colleges are stepping up to lead the recovery efforts. In response, the North Carolina Community College System has launched the Hurricane Helene Community College Response and Recovery Fund, designed to help colleges and their surrounding communities rebuild from the storm’s damage....

As U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road reopens in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina's state parks continue to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. While many high-use areas and trails in the Smokies are now accessible, visitors are urged to exercise caution due to remaining hazards. Brian Strong, Director of North Carolina State Parks, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon...

Western North Carolina is grappling with widespread devastation following Hurricane Helene, with flooded roads, disrupted services, and forced evacuations in Boone. Appalachian State University canceled classes, and emergency personnel are struggling to assess damage in Watauga County due to poor road conditions. David Jackson, President of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, who has lived in Boon...

State climatologist Corey Davis joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to explain the staggering rainfall brought by Hurricane Helene, which, along with an accompanying storm, drenched the Southeast with over 40 trillion gallons of water. North Carolina alone could have been covered by 3.5 feet of water from the storm’s deluge. Davis highlighted the record-breaking nature of this rainfall a...

Wake County Commissioner Matthew Calabria joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss Wake County's deployment of over 100 responders to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Helene's destruction in Western North Carolina. Local agencies from Wake Forest, Knightdale, Cary, and Raleigh have contributed swift water rescue teams to assist with urgent rescue operations. Calabria highlighted...

Rabbi Mendy Wilschanski, Executive Director of the Chabad of Raleigh, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the importance of Rosh Hashanah, one of the most sacred days in the Jewish calendar. Celebrated on October 2, this day marks the birthday of the universe and the start of the Hebrew new year. Rabbi Wilschanski explained the religious customs of the day, including prayers f...

With the Vice-Presidential debate between Tim Walz and J.D. Vance just around the corner, Sloan Duvall of the UNC Young Democrats joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the key issues likely to dominate the debate stage. Duvall highlighted potential talking points, including the economy, national security, and healthcare, and offered insights into how the outcomes could shape the...

As rescue and relief efforts continue in Western North Carolina, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is reminding North Carolinians to do their research and give wisely to make sure their generosity is getting to those in need. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is asking people to be wary of high pressure solicitations on social media or via emails or texts, give to established char...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and Rachel Newberry, Program Manager for Riot, joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to explore how technology is driving economic development and transforming smart cities. Rachel detailed Riot’s role in connecting innovators with opportunities in the tech sector, supporting startups through accelerator programs and events. They discussed how smart...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao, along with former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the rising national debt and the urgent need for fiscal reform. Walker, author of America in 2040: Still a Superpower? , emphasized the dramatic increase in national liabilities and interest costs affecting the fede...

Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh, Jonathan Melton, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to analyze the latest political developments in North Carolina. Melton shared his perspective on the governor’s race, the potential ramifications of Mark Robinson’s candidacy, and its impact on the upcoming presidential election. He also discussed Kamala Harris’s economic plan, focusing on manufacturing and te...

Chris Towner, Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joined Jeff Hamlin and Steve Rao on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss a recent roundtable in Raleigh focused on controlling the federal budget deficit. Towner analyzed how the economic plans proposed by Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could impact the country’s financial future. He broke down Trump’s proposal to lowe...

Tai Wong, spokesperson for the American Red Cross North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to address the critical shortage in the state’s blood supply. With all blood types, especially type O, and platelets urgently needed, the Red Cross is offering e-gift cards to incentivize donations. Wong explained the reasons behind the current shortage and stressed the importance of sta...