WPTF Afternoon News

Relief efforts are underway in Nash County after an EF-3 tornado ripped through on Wednesday. The Red Cross is on scene providing shelter and assistance. Communications director for Raleigh Cally Edwards spoke with Nate Saunders about what is currently being done.

Photo Credit: Kati Saunders Is there a demand for a third party presidential candidate? Nate Saunders talked with former western North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Michele Woodhouse.

Photo Credit: Kati Saunders One North Carolina city is considering a BAN on outdoor bird feeders. Nate Saunders talked with former western North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Michele Woodhouse about that idea in Asheville and other political hot topics.

Photo Credit: Peter Roberts While tonight's match at Kenan Stadium between Chelsea FC and Wrexham AFC got a lot of attention, soccer is growing in many ways around these parts, as Nate Saunders found out from Scott Spickard with NC Courage and NCFC.

We’re learning more now about the controversy involving the man hired as the next Wake Schools Superintendent. Earlier this year, Dr. Robert Taylor moved to his native Mississippi, to take the job of state schools superintendent, but after being on the job some three months, his appointment was rejected by lawmakers there. One of Taylor's jobs was a Deputy Assistant of Public Instruction. His form...

Taking your pet on a trip? Nate Saunders gets some tips from Dr. Jose Arce with American Veterinary Medical Association.

Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino It was hot dog day at the Farmers Market in Raleigh, and our resident foodie Mike Davis was on the case -- and rubbed shoulders with a celebrity. Mike talked about it yesterday with Nate Saunders.

Is now a good time to buy a home in Raleigh? Nate Saunders gets some insight from Real Estate Agent Tammie Harris.

GalaxyCon returns to Raleigh the weekend of July 27. To find out more about what's in store this year, Nate Saunders talked to local organizer Mike Broder.

Nationwide lottery drawing are growing into big numbers, but what are your chances of winning if you buy a ticket? Nate Saunders talked with Jan Hannig, a statistics expert at UNC-Chapel Hill.

For the first time, international soccer is coming to Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. English Premier League's Chelsea will meet Welsh side and Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham in Chapel Hill on Wednesday. Aaron Nelson with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce spoke to Nate Saunders about the impact of the game on the area.

Inflation rates have cooled. Hitting 3% for the first time since 2021. Nate Saunders spoke with UNC Economist Gerald Cohen about what this means for the country, the possibility for a recession and rising interest rates.

Wake County will construct more diverging, diamond intersections. There's a list of six in the planning stages, including one on Western Boulevard as it passes under the beltline. WPTF traffic reporter Jason Rogers joined Nate Saunders to discuss why these intersections can be confusing for motorists.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore has confirmed that his record fifth two-year term presiding over the chamber will be his last. The Cleveland County Republican says colleagues have known about his decision going back a year. Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper joined Nate Saunders to discuss what Moore may do next.

Photo Credit: Kati Saunders New research from a Texas group called Zin Business shows 93% of Gen Zers have taken a step towards exploring business ownership. The survey, which questioned over 1,000 respondents aged 18-to-25, showed 84% of them selected entrepreneurship as the most exciting of career paths. Kati Saunders of Pulse FM, a sister station of WPTF, discussed the findings with her husband...

The gubernatorial election is financially heating up in North Carolina as Democrat Josh Stein has announced that he has already raised $6 million for his campaign. Catawba College Professor Michael Bitzer spoke with Nate Saunders about what to expect in this years election season.

Photo Credit: Nate Saunders It has been a record setting week across the country as temperatures nationwide have soared. Here in Raleigh, it hasn't been too hot, but it's always worth knowing how to stay safe from the heat. Nick Petro from the National Weather Service in Raleigh sat down with Nate Saunders to talk about living with the summer weather.

British soccer teams Chelsea Football Club and Wrexham Association Football Club are set to play a friendly match at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill on July 19. The game is sold out and the businesses of Chapel Hill are bracing for a big day. Andrew Young, owner of Blue's on Franklin, spoke with Nate Saunders about how they're preparing.

Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino The State Farmers market in Raleigh had a Peach Day on Thursday. One of the highlight events was a peach desert competition. Mike Davis and Rob Connett were two of the judges. WPTF Peach Pie Guru Mike Davis talked with Nate Saunders about the competition.

Xylazine is popping up across the country, primarily detected after being mixed with opioids like fentanyl. The drug is typically used as a tranquilizer or sedative for horses. Now, it's become a deadly combination for humans. Xylazine has been discovered in 18 counties across the state. Dr. Mark Papich of N.C. State University discuss Xylaxine with Nate Saunders.

There's a new candidate in the race for Durham's next mayor. Mike Woodard, a Democrat who has served in the state Senate for the past ten years, filed papers to make his candidacy official on Wednesday morning. Woodard joined Nate Saunders to discuss his candidacy on Wednesday.

North Carolina Wildlife is offering safety reminders in the wake of the deadly boating crash on Falls Lake this past weekend. The body of a 21-year old was recovered on Monday following a more-than 30-hour search. Nathan Green, an assistant training director and lieutenant with NC Wildlife, discussed water safety with Nate Saunders.

The Supplemental Security Income program provides monthly payments to adults with a disability or below specific financial limits. However, millions of Americans qualify for assistance but aren't aware of the program or that they are eligible. Abigail Zapote, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of SSI, joined Nate Saunders on Wednesday.

The FDA will award up to $50 million over five years to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University to establish the Research Triangle Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. The center will also involve collaborations with North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University. UNC Chapel Hill Dr. Paul Watkins joined Nate Saunders to discu...

Photo Credit: Jim Haberman A team of specialists and students led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Jodi Magness has uncovered a spectacular mosaic panel in the late Roman synagogue at Huqoq, an ancient Jewish village in Israel’s Lower Galilee. Dr. Jodi Magness of UNC-Chapel Hill led the excavation. She joined Nate Saunders to discuss the discovery.