WPTF Afternoon News

Sloan Duvall, a student at North Carolina Central University and a delegate to the DNC, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the efforts surrounding National Voter Registration Day. With local colleges setting up registration tables and events, Duvall shared the enthusiasm and response she has observed since Kamala Harris officially became the Democratic nominee for president. He also highlighted the imp...

Andrew Crenn from the National Weather Service joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss an approaching coastal storm expected to impact central North Carolina. Crenn explained that although the storm is not tropical, it will bring significant rain and gusty winds, with rainfall totals reaching up to three inches and wind gusts peaking at 40 mph. He noted that the strongest winds wi...

Jeff Brooks from Duke Energy joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss preparations for a storm expected to bring heavy rain, flash flooding, and strong wind gusts to central North Carolina. Brooks detailed how Duke Energy is closely monitoring the storm and deploying linemen to address potential power outages. He highlighted the importance of staying informed, preparing for outages...

Allen Pickett, owner of Honeybee Hemp Farms, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss how the prolonged heat and dry weather have impacted his hemp crops this year. Pickett, who began growing hemp after seeing friends succumb to opioid and prescription drug abuse, shared insights into the challenges many hemp producers faced this summer. As different breeds of hemp plants flower at...

North Carolina Representative Zach Hawkins joined the show to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent rallies in Charlotte and Greensboro, along with her growing influence in North Carolina. He highlighted the excitement surrounding Harris’s candidacy, comparing it to the energy seen in 2008 when Barack Obama flipped the state. Hawkins also delved into Harris’s bold plans for housing, econom...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and longtime Cary resident Shaluka Pereira discussed Pereira’s unique way of celebrating his 50th birthday—by running 50 miles across Raleigh’s greenways. Pereira explained how the event aims to raise funds to support students in Wake County’s public schools who lack access to proper athletic gear. The conversation touched on Raleigh’s greenway system and Pere...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao joined Cary City Councilmember Sarika Bansal to discuss Cary's upcoming bond measures. Bansal highlighted two significant bonds, including a $560 million investment in parks and recreation, featuring new community centers, pickleball courts, and greenways. The second bond, a $30 million housing initiative, aims to improve affordable h...

North Carolina State Senator Val Applewhite joined Steve Rao and Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the recent debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Applewhite shared her thoughts on Harris’s debate performance, noting how she took command of the stage. The conversation covered key debate issues such as reproductive rights, fracking, and the economic policies...

UNC Hockey has announced a major fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $25 million to build its own arena in Chapel Hill by the 2028 season. The proposed 3,000-seat multi-use facility will be located at Carraway Village, off Interstate 40. A land purchase agreement has already been completed, with plans to close on the property by May 2025. Organizers are also seeking naming rights to help fund th...

Dr. David English, senior vice president for academic affairs with the UNC System, joins Jeff Hamlin to discuss record enrollment across NC public universities.

Donald Trump remains steadfast in his claim that he won the 2020 election, continuing to deny any responsibility for the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. During the recent debate with Kamala Harris, Trump once again refused to accept his 2020 defeat and downplayed the violent aftermath of his false claims. His grievances about the 2020 election are still central to his campaign strate...

A family of critically endangered red wolves will soon leave the Museum of Life and Science in Durham for a conservation center in New York. The move, scheduled for October, follows the Red Wolf Recovery Program’s decision that first-time parents Oak and Deyha are genetically valuable and should breed again next year. Sherry Samuels, Senior Director of Animal Care at the Museum of Life and Science...

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offered opposing visions for the country during their first presidential debate. The two clashed on abortion, immigration, and U.S. democracy, with Harris advocating for middle-class tax cuts and restoring federal abortion rights, while Trump emphasized tariffs and ending the Russia-Ukraine war. CBS News Political Reporter Hunter Woodall joined Jeff Hamlin to break d...

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off in their first and possibly only debate of the presidential race. The Democratic vice president set the tone early by shaking Trump’s hand on stage before engaging in a 90-minute exchange on topics like economic policy, the 2020 election, and Trump’s public performances. Wake Forest University communications professor Nate French joined Jeff Hamlin to analy...

As summer comes to a close, North Carolinians are already making travel plans for the holiday season. According to a new AAA survey, 61% of residents plan to take an overnight vacation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, with a quarter starting their bookings as early as August. Tiffany Wright of AAA Carolinas joined Jeff Hamlin to share tips on the best travel days and advice for avoiding th...

Tuesday’s presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will give Americans a close look at two contrasting visions for the nation. The face-to-face meeting in Philadelphia marks a key moment in a tumultuous campaign season, with Harris making history as the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to serve as vice president. Wake County Representative Maria Cervania joined Jeff H...

National artists Janelle Monáe, Tierra Whack, and Moses Sumney are set to perform at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater for the CAROLINADAZE Music & Arts Festival, hosted by Common Cause North Carolina. The festival aims to connect young North Carolinians with their aspirations during a pivotal election year. Gino Nuzzolilo of Common Cause North Carolina joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the goals of...

A former acquaintance of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said the Republican candidate for governor viewed movies at Greensboro-area shops in the 1990s and early 2000s. Robinson's campaign called the claims, first published by The Assembly, "ridiculous allegations." The Assembly’s article relied heavily on statements from a former Greensboro porn shop worker, Louis Money. The Robinson campaign forcefully r...

Kamala Harris steps on to the presidential general election debate stage for the first time Tuesday. But the vice president and Democratic nominee has plenty of debate experience to draw on as she takes on former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Longtime political observers of Harris describe her debate approach as obviously influenced by her years as a prosecutor and attorney genera...

North Carolina State University students, faculty and staff could be just a few weeks away from getting the results of a federal health investigation into Poe Hall. There are also new details about plans to remove PCB contamination from the building and renovate it. N.C. State Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Charles Maimone answered questions about the ongoing situation at...

Corey Branch joins Steve Rao and Anthony DeHart on the Wake County Roundup

Krista Covey joins Steve Rao and Anthony DeHart on the Wake County Roundup

Rachel Lee Brady Parent & advocate of Opportunity Scholarships

Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted the debate rules for her upcoming face-off with former President Donald Trump, although her campaign expressed concern about the decision to mute both candidates' microphones except during their speaking turns. The Harris campaign believes this may put her at a disadvantage in the Sept. 10 debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Judge B...

Lauren Kennedy Brady, Executive Director of Theatre Raleigh and a former Broadway actress, has been working alongside Ron Shelton, director of the original Bull Durham film, to adapt the story into a musical. After three years of development with a talented team of designers, the musical is set to premiere at Duke University. Brady, whose career highlights include Les Miserables , joined Jeff Haml...