WPTF Morning News

Bruce McClary, senior vice president of membership and communications at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, joins Tony to discuss the organization's first quarter 2026 Financial Stress Forecast, which shows consumer financial stress has plateaued near record-high levels and that more Americans are proactively seeking nonprofit credit counseling as their capacity to manage debt is pushe...

Joy Berry, known as the inventor of self-help books for children and author of more than 200 titles with over 85 million copies sold, joins Lisa Price to discuss a new Brookings Institution report showing that 6 in 10 parents say their toddlers interact with voice assistants daily. Berry explains why she believes AI is becoming a surrogate parent and what families can do to ensure children develop...

Kelly Ransdell, director of public education at the National Fire Protection Association, joins Lisa Price to discuss grill safety ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when outdoor grilling fires surge across the country. Ransdell shares key data showing gas grills account for 76% of home grilling fires and that one in five fires involves a grill that had not been cleaned, along with practical tips to p...

Legendary singer and songwriter Dionne Warwick joins Lisa Price to discuss her new song "Ocean in the Desert," a duet with Cynthia Erivo from her upcoming album "DWuets," due out in August. The album marks the final release of Warwick's 65-year recording career.

Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff joins Lisa Price to discuss Southwest Airlines laying off 75 employees despite reporting $7.2 billion in quarterly revenue, a disruptive passenger who bit a flight attendant on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Dallas forcing an emergency stop in Tahiti, and why Ratliff disagrees with the Delta and United CEOs who say low-cost carriers are on their way out.

Julian Braithwaite, CEO of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, joins Lisa Price to discuss new survey data showing 86% of Americans who drink plan to do so this summer, how moderation has edged out taste as the top consideration for the first time, and emerging trends like zebra striping and nonna maxing that reflect a quieter shift in how people think about drinking.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to walk the class of 2026 through six essential financial steps as they enter the workforce, covering how to track spending, manage student loans, build an emergency fund, start saving for retirement, compare health insurance options and protect against identity theft by freezing their credit.

Emily Dickens, chief administrative officer at the Society for Human Resource Management, joins Tony to discuss a recent meeting of more than 50 North Carolina HR leaders with state lawmakers to address a workforce gap requiring 5,000 to 10,000 more graduates annually, and what policymakers can do to better align education and workforce training with employer needs.

Ariel Clay, chief operating officer of Woodhouse Spa, joins Tony to discuss the growing trend of skinvestment, a shift away from trial-and-error product routines toward more personalized, professional skincare treatments, and how people can build a long-term skincare plan heading into summer.

Valerie Bauerlein, reporter for The Wall Street Journal, joins Tony to discuss the latest developments in the Alex Murdaugh case.

Dr. Eric Houck, associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Education and treasurer of the National Education Finance Academy, joins Tony to break down the education policy implications of the newly reached North Carolina Senate and House budget deal and what it means for schools across the state.

Dr. William Link, Richard J. Milbauer Professor of History at the University of Florida, joins Tony to discuss his book "Jesse Helms: Modern Conservatism and the Politics of Opposition" and the parallels he draws between the late North Carolina senator's brand of conservative politics and the approach of President Trump.

Carol Hymes, event director at RecruitMilitary and U.S. Army veteran, joins Tony to discuss a free virtual veteran and military spouse hiring event on May 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central, hosted in partnership with the Disabled American Veterans and connecting transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses with employers actively hiring. Registration is available at recruitmilitary...

Dr. Mike Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus and extension economist at North Carolina State University, joins Tony to break down the details of the General Assembly's proposed budget, including what it gets right and where it falls short for North Carolina residents.

Paul Padgett, inspections director for the town of Garner, joins Tony during Building Safety Month to explain the role local inspections departments play in public safety and share practical steps homeowners can take to improve safety, build resilience against disasters and ensure their homes are accessible for all.

Dr. Gabriella Dauer, pediatrician and founder of Dauer Pediatrics and OnCall Peds, joins Tony to discuss iron deficiency, the most common nutritional shortfall globally, and why it is particularly serious in children including premature babies and picky eaters. Dauer explains the warning signs parents should watch for and when a supplement may be needed beyond dietary changes. For more information...

Dr. W. Craig Noblett, president of the American Association of Endodontists, joins Tony to discuss Save Your Tooth Month and new survey data showing nearly 7 in 10 Americans say saving a natural tooth is usually the best option. Noblett explains the role endodontists play in preserving natural teeth and how treating tooth infections can have a broader impact on overall health. For more information...

Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes join Tony Riggsbee ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season to share five essential steps families can take to prepare for natural disasters, from building an emergency kit to reviewing insurance coverage for flood and wind damage.

Dr. Ryan Potter, vice president of audiology at HearingLife, joins Tony Riggsbee during National Police Week to discuss the alarming rates of job-related hearing loss among first responders, including up to 80% of long-term law enforcement officers, and what police, firefighters and EMS workers can do to protect their hearing on the job.

Dr. Chris DeRienzo, chief physician executive and senior vice president at the American Hospital Association, joins Tony Riggsbee to discuss National Hospital Week and the critical role community hospitals play in patient care and local economies. DeRienzo, a former chief medical officer at WakeMed, highlights that North Carolina's 109 hospitals directly employ more than 500,000 people and generat...

CBS News White House correspondent Aaron Navarro joins Tony Riggsbee to preview President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where trade deals on soybeans and beef are expected alongside pressure on China to help broker a peace deal with Iran. Navarro also discusses the president's warning that the Iran ceasefire is on life support after rejecting Iran's latest proposal, and biparti...

Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff joins Lisa Price to discuss a fatal incident at Denver International Airport where a person who breached the perimeter fence was struck by a Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff, forcing an emergency evacuation. Ratliff also addresses the death of a Delta Airlines ground employee in Orlando after a collision involving a tug and a jet bridge, and explains why passenge...

Dr. David Shapiro, chair of the Stop the Bleed Committee of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, joins Lisa Price to discuss the summertime spike in traumatic injuries known as trauma season and why learning basic bleeding control techniques can be the difference between life and death before emergency responders arrive.

Dr. Macie Smith, gerontologist and dementia educator at SYNERGY HomeCare, joins Lisa Price to discuss the 2026 Older Americans Month theme, Champion Your Health, which focuses on prevention, wellness and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. Smith shares practical advice on how older adults can take a more active role in managing their health and maintaining independence.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to break down what the latest jobs report really means for young graduates entering a tough labor market, where unemployment among college-educated workers ages 22 to 27 is running higher than expected. Schlesinger addresses anxiety around artificial intelligence replacing entry-level jobs, explains why networking still beats social media doom s...