WPTF Afternoon News

Join host Anthony and Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rauh as they delve into the latest in local politics, cricket, and national news on the Wake County Roundup. In this episode, they discuss President Biden's recent campaign appearances, the impact on upcoming elections, and the significance of economic issues like inflation and unemployment. They also explore the role of North Carolina as a s...

Join us as we sit down with Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and Raleigh's Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton for an insightful discussion on the current state and future of Raleigh. From the challenges of hosting city events like the Fourth of July fireworks to tackling issues in budgeting, affordable housing, and urban development, Mayor Pro Tem Melton provides a candid look at what's happening...

Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao joins Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to give commentary on the news of the day including the continued fallout from President Biden's debate performance and some preparations for July 4th festivities.

Western North Carolina felt three earthquakes in 24 hours in June, and one Appalachian State University professor said a recently discovered fault line might have been behind it. Each was relatively small, according to records, and near the area of the 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Sparta, North Carolina, in 2020. Appalachian State University professor Scott Marshall says earthquakes in the eastern...

The echoes are growing louder as to whether President Biden is stable enough for a second term in office. Tensions grew after a performance in a debate against Donald Trump last week that even Biden's staunchest supporters called "awful." On Tuesday, a Reuters poll found that former First Lady Michelle Obama leads Donald Trump 50-39 in a hypothetical matchup. Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan also...

Join us as we delve into the challenges veterans are encountering in today's housing market, marked by unprecedented prices and interest rates. Our guest, Clint Jordan, founder of Mil-Estate, a military real estate network, offers valuable insights into navigating these obstacles. Discover how veterans can leverage existing loan programs and strategic approaches to secure affordable housing soluti...

North Carolina is changing rapidly with so many people moving here daily. What was once agricultural land is quickly becoming residential space. Loren Hendrickson, Wake County's Farmland Preservation Coordinator. joined Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News to talk about what it means to lose farmland and a study about the issue.

Morrisville is one of only two hosts for the Major League Cricket games in the United States in July 2024. The Town of Morrisville will play host to Cognizant Major League Cricket from July 5-17 at Church Street Park. Major League Cricket will kick off its second season on July 5 at Church Street Park in Morrisville when the defending league champions, MI New York, will face the Seattle Orcas to o...

There’s uncertainty surrounding the Biden campaign’s quest for a second term in the White House. Even the president’s staunchest supporters admitted his performance in the first debate against Donald Trump was a disaster. For the first time, a Democratic Congressman is calling for Biden to drop out of the race. But who would replace the president on the ticket if he does leave? And can that replac...

The heat on June 26 set a new record in Raleigh, reaching 103 degrees and breaking the old record of 102 degrees that had stood since 1952. In the past six days, 32 people have visited Duke Health emergency departments for heat-related illnesses. In Wake County, 43 patients have been treated for emergency heat-related illnesses this month, up from 31 patients for all of June 2023. Dr. Abhi Mehrotr...

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for Idaho hospitals to provide emergency abortions, for now, in a procedural order that left key questions unanswered and could mean the issue ends up before the conservative-majority court again soon. By a 6-3 vote, the decision reverses the court’s earlier order that had allowed an Idaho abortion ban to go into effect, even in medical emergencies. The North...

Revisit the sounds of the ‘70s with music by James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, and more for the holiday weekend. The North Carolina Symphony will host a concert on July 6 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. The conductor for the event, Chris Confessore, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the event and everything that attendees can look forward to for the holiday weekend concert.

In a groundbreaking study, Duke Health researchers have identified a way to potentially reverse liver aging and restore liver function. Utilizing experiments on mice and human liver tissue, the team discovered the mechanisms causing liver cells to die with age and managed to reverse this process using an investigational drug. Dr. Anna Mae Diehl, professor of medicine at Duke University, joins Jeff...

In this episode of Wake County Roundup on WPTF Radio we are joined by Commissioner Brian Hains and Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao. They dive into the latest developments in Fuquay-Varina, including traffic improvements, water infrastructure projects, and maintaining green spaces. Commissioner Hains shares insights on addressing affordable housing challenges and attracting new businesses to...

Join us on The Wake County Roundup as we talk with Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao and Zebulon's Mayor Glenn York. We dive into the pressing issues facing Zebulon, including budget priorities, economic development, affordable housing, and the impact of growth on this vibrant town. Mayor York provides insights into the town's recent budget, economic strategies, and u...

Anderson Clayton, Chairperson of the North Carolina Democratic Party, joins Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the energy at Biden's rally in Raleigh and her perspectives on the president's recent debate performance. Anderson shares insights on the rally, the excitement among North Carolina Democrats, and the importance of youth engagement in the political process. She also addre...

Car dealerships nationwide had to adapt their operations following a cyber attack that disrupted the management software commonly used. CDK Global informed its dealership clients that their essential software tools would likely remain incomplete for the rest of the month due to a hack that caused a widespread outage. John Policastro, President of North Carolina Auto Deals, joined Jeff Hamlin on th...

Governor Roy Cooper has unveiled plans for a new North Carolina Music Office to be housed within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. This initiative aims to support and showcase the state's rich musical heritage, musicians, and industry. The Music Office will serve as a central hub for a range of music-focused programs and investments statewide, consolidating and enhan...

Apple has paused plans for its East Coast hub at Research Triangle Park. Initially announced in 2021, Apple's $1 billion project was set for development along Little Drive in Morrisville. However, the company has decided to delay progress on its $552 million RTP campus, extending the construction timeline in the state. Mike Walden, N.C. State Professor Emeritus of Economics at N.C. State, joined J...

Morrisville is set to host Major League Cricket again this summer, with multiple matches scheduled at Church Street Park throughout July. The inaugural game on July 5 will feature the Seattle Orcas against MI New York. Major League Cricket had several matches in Morrisville last year. This comes at a notable time for cricket in the United States, following their victory over Pakistan in the Cricke...

Keith Poston, the President of the WakeEd Partnership, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the launch of “Back to Schools with Tools4Schools” on July 9. This eight-week community-wide school supply drive aims to support WakeEd’s free classroom supply store for Wake County Public School teachers, Tools4Schools. Running from July 9 to August 26, the drive concludes just before t...

Matt Chazanow is the new play-by-play man for the N.C. State Wolfpack, replacing Gary Hahn, who retired in April after 34 years. Chazanow, who arrives in Raleigh from Washington State, where he spent nine years as the voice of the Cougars, is a New Jersey native. Since 2022, he has been a national play-by-play announcer for Westwood One and has been with Learfield since 2008. Previously, Chazanow...

Four years ago, then-President Trump arrived at the first debate with Joe Biden in Cleveland seemingly determined to steamroll Biden at every turn. The debate turned into chaos. The second and final presidential debate of 2020, held in Nashville, Tennessee, was far more subdued. On Thursday night, President Biden and Trump will debate once again in Atlanta. How important will the debate be followi...

AAA projects Independence Day travelers will set new records both nationwide and in North Carolina. AAA says more than 70.9 million people in the United States are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home for July 4. Of those, 2.2 million will be North Carolinians. AAA’s Independence Day travel forecast measures domestic trips of 50 miles or more during a nine-day period from June 29 to...

Downtown Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater is poised for a record-breaking 2024 season with 51 concerts scheduled, nearly triple the amount since its 2010 debut. Starting in April, this year’s concert series has already seen sell-out performances by Bryson Tiller, Queens of the Stone Age, Chappell Roan, and Khruangbin, with more expected through late October. Kerry Painter, Executive Director of Red...