WPTF Afternoon News

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane season. They’re predicting 17-to-25 named storms, meaning those with sustained wins of 39 miles-per-hour or higher. According to NOAA data from 1991 to 2020, an average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Doctor Rick Luettich is a coastal physical oceanograph...

Baseball players and fans alike are learning more about the Negro Leagues after the statistics for more than 2,300 players — historic figures like Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, Satchel Paige and Mule Suttles — were incorporated into the major league record book following a three-year research project. A 17-person committee chaired by John Thorn, Major League Baseball’s official historian, met six...

Join Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News as Tim Peeler, an authority on NC State Athletics, delves into the captivating tale of the 1974 NCAA championship showdown between NC State and UCLA. As they reminisce about basketball icon Bill Walton's impact on and off the court, Peeler shares insights into the legendary game that left a lasting mark on college basketball history. From the buildup to...

Closing arguments began Tuesday in former president Donald Trump's hush money trial. The former president is accused of falsifying business records to hide reimbursement for a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels after an alleged sexual encounter...and of allegedly participating in a scheme to suppress negative stories ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Thane Rosenbaum is...

The North Carolina Republican Convention hosted Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in Greensboro. On Saturday, Ramaswamy took the stage to chants of "V.P." from the crowd. He introduced Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor in North Carolina. Robinson said he and Ramaswamy are proof of a more inclusive Republican party. N.C. State political...

Wayne Goodwin, the Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), joined Anthony DeHart and Steve Rao on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the recent technological advancements and initiatives aimed at improving customer experience and efficiency at the DMV. They also talked about the challenges faced by the DMV, recent computer outages, the implementation of DMV kiosks in...

Memorial Day is coming up and we wanted to know the significance of this federal holiday and how Americans observe it. Martin Kiefer is the Director of the Survey Research Center at High Point University, he joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss about recent research on North Carolinians' summer travel plans and Memorial Day activities. Discover how inflation and gas prices i...

Morrisville Town Councilman and political commentator Steve Rao, and Mike Fox, the Chairman of the North Carolina Department of Transportation joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss the future of transportation, the impact of technology like AI and drones, and innovative funding strategies to address the challenges posed by the evolving transportation landscape. We also discus...

Morrisville has become a burgeoning hub for cricket enthusiasts, attracting attention from around the world. From grassroots initiatives to international training camps, the town's passion for the sport has propelled it onto the global stage. Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao and Jon Champion are joined by Shaluka Perrera to discuss the exciting transformation of cricket in Morrisville,

The danger of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning grows with the use of portable generators in summer storm and hurricane season. Nicolette Nye of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission joined Jon Champion on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss why the danger grows in during summer.

Steve Rao sat down with John Chambers at the Triangle AI Summit in Durham, NC, on May 15th, 2024. Esteemed guests such as Jim Weaver, Allen Thomas, and Elaine F. Marshall joined the event, which was broadcasted by WPTF. In this fireside chat with the former executive chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, you'll hear discussions on the impacts of AI, along with a Q&A session with event attendees.

Irene Loewenson is an award-winning reporter for Marine Corps Times, the only independent news outlet dedicated solely to covering the U.S. Marines. Since joining the publication in 2022, she has reported on a wide range of topics, including the modernization of the Marine Corps, operations in the Middle East, homicide cases, and the conditions of the barracks. One of her notable articles is title...

Rockie Lynne is a country Music artist and has made a new documentary "Where I Belong," about his incredible journey from being abandoned as a child to discovering his roots and making peace with his past. As a co-founder of Tribute to the Troops, Rocky also highlights the impactful work his charity does to support America's fallen soldiers and their families. Over the past 21 years, the organizat...

Anthony DeHart sat down with Allen Thomas, Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration, on WPTF's Afternoon News. They discuss resources for small businesses in North Carolina, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and advice for those starting or growing their businesses. Tune in for insights on navigating the small business landscape in our state.

Anthony DeHart sat down with Allen Thomas, Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration, on WPTF's Afternoon News. They discuss resources for small businesses in North Carolina, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and advice for those starting or growing their businesses. Tune in for insights on navigating the small business landscape in our state.

May is Military Appreciation Month and May 18th is National Armed Forces Day. In the spirit of celebrating our armed forces, we sit down with Staff Sergeant Brett David Meil, a Marine Corps instructor with a remarkable story of courage and sacrifice. Born in Amarillo, Texas, and a graduate of Kerrville Tivy High School, Meil's journey into the Marines began in December 2016. After enlisting, he un...

Wolfe & Porter is a new craft cocktail bar in downtown Raleigh. The bar is hosting a grand opening, Tiki Fest, this Saturday, May 18th. Co-owner Matt Lee and bar manager Richard Reno joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to talk about their vision for Wolfe & Porter and about the Grand Opening festivities planned for Saturday.

Christina Roman is Experian’s Consumer Education and Advocacy Manager. She is passionate about financial literacy and is responsible for Experian’s Education Ambassador Program – an employee advocacy program that provides credit education to Experian employees with the goal of empowering them to teach credit fundamentals in their local communities. Christina serves as an expert spokesperson on con...

The Police Chief of Apex will step down in October. Jason Armstrong has been the leader of the police department since 2021. A 23-year veteran of law enforcement, Armstrong graduated from North Carolina Central. He started his career in Forest Park, Georgia. The town will start the recruitment process to select Armstrong’s replacement soon. Armstrong joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News t...

The N.C. State football team was supposed to face Appalachian State next year. Now, that two-game series isn’t happening. Instead, the Wolfpack will face longtime ACC rival Virginia in two non-conference games, starting in 2025. Representative David Willis is among the lawmakers in the General Assembly that would compel North Carolina and N.C. State to routinely face Appalachian State, East Caroli...

Franklin County Schools is moving forward with its plan to get rid of librarians. On Monday night, many librarians showed up to the Franklin County School Board meeting, some from outside the county, hopeful they could keep librarians in school libraries. During budget talks last month, Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Schuler wrote in a statement "After careful consideration, I am transferring our media...

He was known as "The King of the Cult Movies." Roger Corman died last week at the age of 98. Corman gave a start to many young directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme. Among the actors who appeared in his early films were Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd and William Shatner. He also founded New World Pictures and co...

Growing old is inevitable, and the best way to survive and endure this journey is to live life to the fullest as we move on in years. Meet Patricia Greenberg, aka The Fitness Gourmet, who has spent the last 20 years researching how and why we age. After countless interviews and following people as they matured into their 40s, 50s, and 60s, she determined that embracing your age, and reveling in th...

Sean Fallon is the Co-Owner of the Preserve at Lynch Creek LLC & Co-Founder of Freedom Ranch Animal Sanctuary. He is an Eagle Scout with many years working on the Appalachian Trail, conservancy and sustainability efforts. Sean is incredibly passionate about sustainability and has dedicated over 30 years to his environmental sustainability career. His dedication, hard work nd know-how are the b...

Is this the beginning of North Carolina leaving the ACC? On Monday, the UNC Board of Trustees approved an audit of UNC-Chapel Hill’s athletic department amid concerns over the Tar Heels’ revenue, management and changes to college sports. There was some criticism levied against Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham after learning that the athletic department submitted a preliminary budget proposal for...