WPTF Afternoon News

A Raleigh man gave the ultimate Mother’s Day gift to the one he loves. Justin Starks donated his kidney to his mother, Sheri. Several years ago, Sheri learned that her kidneys weren’t working anymore. Although a kidney transplant can restore the health of patients suffering from kidney failure, many people have never had the chance to benefit from a transplant. Justin Starks said he wasn’t ready t...

A rally in Durham is calling for higher pay for childcare workers. A new release for the event, called, "Imagine a Day Without Childcare," reads, "This day of action will address how gender roles and inadequate worker protections historically undervalue labor. The event will include speeches, activities for children and opportunities for community members to get involved." The median wage for chil...

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Go Red for Women campaign. Members of the Triangle chapter of the American Heart Association got together to celebrate the past year of fundraising and community outreach. The event was held at the Raleigh Convention Center and was all about celebrating volunteers and donors for raising awareness about women's heart health. Joy Clark, the Chairperson of the...

The City of Raleigh is trying a new approach to reduce homelessness. They're planning to give unconditional money directly to people who are trying to transition out of homelessness, and hope that they spend it in a way that keeps a roof over their heads. It’s something that other cities across the country have attempted. Emila Sutton, Housing and Neighborhoods Director for the City of Raleigh, ta...

The Harnett Regional Jetport is opening a new terminal. The Harnett Regional Jetport, Harnett County departments, elected officials and the community on Saturday, May 18, 2024, will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new terminal and a jamboree to celebrate this historic occasion. The event will offer static aircraft displays, vendors, food trucks, music, and more. Join us for t...

Amaris Balkus has been Blue Water Medical Spa’s COO since 2005. And she’s not just the COO, she’s a mom, wife, and BWS client who is a walking billboard for a variety of treatments. Both men and women have breast tissue beneath the nipple areolar complex. Gynecomastia is enlargement of male breast tissue. Amaris joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to talk about gynecomastia and the treat...

A Grammy-award Bluegrass musician who was a native of Raleigh has died suddenly. Jim Mills died expectedly at the age of 57 on Friday, according to Hall-Wynne Funeral Services. Mills taught himself how to play banjo at the age of 12 and played with such artists as Ricky Skaggs, The Bass Mountain Boys, Dolly Parton and Vince Gill. He won the International Bluegrass Music Association banjo player of...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hundreds of women die each year in the United States during pregnancy or in the year after. The CDC said Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. And the March of Dimes’ maternity vulnerability index shows in North Carolina the rate of Black maternal mortality is high. Karinda Roebuck...

This year’s Wake County Teacher of the Year originally didn’t have teaching in mind for his career. Ryan Berglund used to work as a welder. Berglund has been a Millbrook Sustainable Agriculture Academy teacher since July 2019. He started teaching Career and Technical Education after working as a welder and equipment fabricator. Under his mentorship, 64 students have become certified welders ready...

As college graduation season begins, High Point University is releasing a poll that shows is data from a survey of North Carolinians regarding which skills they believe college graduates need to succeed in today’s workplace. Overall, those North Carolinians surveyed said recent college graduates are well versed in technical skills, which are important. Dr. Martin Kifer, Associate Professor of Poli...

The shape of high school sports will change drastically in August 2025. After years of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association being comprised of four classifications, it will change to eight. Last week, the NCHSAA announced that the highest classification will be comprised of the largest 32 schools in the state, the so-called “Big 32.” Some of those schools are in Wake County. J. Mike...

A North Carolina state lawmaker has filed a bill to ban prop bets on college sports in the state, following the call of the NCAA president and similar bans in other states. Durham Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey, a former U.S. Olympic swimmer and NCAA enforcement staffer, was fierce opponent of the legalization of mobile sports betting statewide. Mobile sports betting launched in March and bettors in...

A 28-acre wonderland of exotic and rare plants from all over the globe is opening for visitors – for this weekend only. The Juniper Level Botanic Garden opens for the public only once each season. This month, they are opening on the weekend of May 10 to May 12. After that, the magical secret garden won't hold another open garden day until next season. Tony Avent, the Proprietor of Juniper Level Bo...

About 200 pro-Palestinian protestors marched on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus Friday, without incident. A different scene took place earlier in the week, as protestors clashed with police -- and some three dozen people were arrested. Daily Tar Heel Managing Editor Liv Reilly told WPTF news that some student reporters were caught in the crossfire. Speaking to Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon news,...

Doctors who care for pregnant women say abortion laws are already impacting patients and physicians. Some worry that if stricter laws go into effect in North Carolina, fewer top-quality doctors will choose to practice in the state. Doctors who care for pregnant women say abortion laws are already impacting patients and physicians. Some worry that if stricter laws go into effect in North Carolina,...

Marijuana could soon be legally considered a lower-risk drug. Right now, the Drug Enforcement Agency classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug. Those are considered the most addictive and dangerous – like heroin and ecstasy. The Associated Press reports that the DEA will move to reclassify the drug to Schedule III--alongside Ketamine and Tylenol with codeine, which the DEA considers as drugs with...

The public has a chance to celebrate local veterans, first responders, and personal heroes for Durham's inaugural "Flags for Heroes" event. On May 19, 600 10-foot American flags will be raised at the Hub RTP's fields for a fun kickoff celebration. The Hub RTP is located at 300 Park Offices Dr. in Research Triangle Park. The public is invited to sponsor flags in honor of those who have sacrificed i...

Marjorie Taylor Greene says that she is going to force a vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson in the next week. Duke Professor Mac McCorkle joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to talk about the “motion to vacate” and how the Presidential Election is shaping up at this point.

The North Carolina Museum of History announced on Wednesday announced the museum and its exhibits are getting a major makeover. It will lead to the museum closing for 2-to-3 years, starting in June. Third-floor exhibits will close first, on Monday, June 3. The history museum will entirely close to the public on Monday, Oct. 7, but digital experiences will be provided while the museum is redesigned...

The WakeEd Partnership will present a STEMposium on Wednesday, May 8. STEMposium is an annual event where these inspired educators and their students can share the projects that they implemented in their classrooms as a result of SummerSTEM business-school partnerships. The SummerSTEM program empowers Wake County Public School teachers to bring real-world workplace and business lessons to their cl...

Liz Thompson is the director of sales and marketing for Boo and Henry's BBQ. She has a culinary degree and an MBA in Marketing combined with over 25+ years’ experience as a pastry chef, co- restaurant owner and product manager in the food industry. Liz Thompson joined Anthony DeHart on the WPTF Afternoon News to share what kind of things she will be cooking up for her Memorial Day celebrations.

Tania is the Broker/Owner of ERA Live Moore, a regional real estate company serving Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Jacksonville, Marion, Ashville, Cornelius, Wilkesboro. She joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss local real estate conditions in the Raleigh area.

The School Meals for All NC Youth Ambassadors are at the North Carolina General Assembly today to speak with legislators about the importance of school meals for young people School Meals for All NC Ambassadors, ranging in age from 13 to 24, are young people who hail from across the state. Their goal is to support school meals in North Carolina, where 1 of every 6 children is experiencing hunger,...

It is a time of heartbreak in Charlotte. The mourning continues after four police officers were killed after a shootout with an armed felon, who was eventually killed. The officers killed have been identified as Samuel Poloche and William Elliott, both members of the State Department of Adult Correction; Thomas Weeks, a U.S. Marshall; and Joshua Eyer, a veteran of the Charlotte Police Department....

A spectacular wonder of nature or an anxiety-inducing nuisance? It depends on whom you ask. Naturalists have already spotted the first arrivals in a rare phenomenon during which cicadas will emerge this spring across more than a dozen US states—including North Carolina--blanketing eastern parts of the country with billions, perhaps trillions, of the flying bugs. N.C. State University entomologist...