WPTF Morning News

Linda Benning, biomed account supervisor for the American Red Cross, joins Lisa Price to encourage listeners to donate blood or platelets this spring, with donors giving through May 17 receiving a $20 Amazon gift card and those giving May 18-31 receiving a Red Cross beach towel. Appointments can be scheduled at redcrossblood.org .

Dr. Robert Hartwig, clinical associate professor of finance and director of the Risk and Uncertainty Management Center at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, joins Lisa Price to discuss how legal system abuse has become a major but often overlooked driver of rising costs for American consumers and what reforms at the federal and state level could help ease the b...

Chris Edwards, play-by-play voice of the Wilson Warbirds and Duke women's basketball, joins Tony in studio to discuss the Warbirds' upcoming homestand featuring Military Appreciation Night on May 14 and First Responders Night on May 16 at Wilson Ballpark. Edwards and Tony also break down the early surprises of the major league season, including the dominant Atlanta Braves, the struggling New York...

Sen. Lisa Barnes of Nash County joins Tony to discuss a bill she introduced with Sens. Newton and Moffitt that would prohibit Rocky Mount from transferring revenue from its electric fund to other city funds, a practice the state auditor's office identified as a key contributor to the city's financial distress. Barnes also weighs in on the broader debate over property tax reform in North Carolina a...

Ashton Clemmons, assistant vice president of P-12 strategy and policy at the UNC System, joins Lisa Price to discuss a record 522 students who have committed to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program for the 2026-27 academic year, a merit-based forgivable loan program that provides up to $10,000 per year for future teachers in high-need fields including special education and STEM.

Dr. Nicholas Turner, assistant professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at the Duke Infectious Diseases Clinic, joins Tony Riggsbee to discuss the hantavirus cases that forced a cruise ship to remain in the Atlantic and what the public should know about this rare but serious illness.

Dr. Chris Cooper, Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University, joins Tony Riggsbee to discuss the House Ethics Committee investigation into U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and what the allegations, which Edwards has denied, could mean for his re-election bid in the 11th Congressional District.

Brian Fletcher, welcome center manager at the Interstate 85 North Welcome Center in Norlina, joins Tony Riggsbee to discuss National Travel and Tourism Week and a series of travel fair events being held at welcome centers across North Carolina through May 8, featuring local attractions, museums and North Carolina-grown products.

N.C. Department of Transportation Corridor Development Engineer Dean Ledbetter and NCDOT Communications Officer Chrissy Murphy join Lisa Price along with Wendy Smith, development and design director for the city of Morganton, and her sister Mandy Hice to share the story of how Ledbetter learned of Mandy's need for a kidney through a church prayer list and stepped forward to help. The group discuss...

Robyn Fehrman, executive director of Teach For America North Carolina, joins Lisa Price during Teacher Appreciation Week to discuss what teachers across North Carolina are experiencing right now, how families and communities can show meaningful support beyond a single week, and why Teach For America is seeing a 43% increase in its teaching corps as Gen Z increasingly views teaching as a purposeful...

Maria Thomas, technician excellence manager at General Motors, joins Lisa Price on National Skilled Trades Day to discuss the roughly 70,000 auto technician job openings that open each year, how students and veterans are finding faster paths into the field without a four-year degree, and what the growth of electric vehicles means for skilled trades careers and repair wait times at dealerships nati...

Stacey Rodgers (Founder) and Adra Campbell (Fundraising/Developmental Director) with the Sparkle Mentoring Program discusses how many girls—especially Black girls—are navigating anxiety, self-esteem challenges, and major life decisions without consistent guidance or safe spaces to process what they’re experiencing. It’s a gap that isn’t always visible, but it has long-term impact. To help with the...

Mike Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, joins Tony Rigssbee to discuss the growing loss of mobile home communities across the state, where estimates suggest up to a quarter of nearly 3,000 trailer parks have been sold in recent months as rising land values and rapid population growth push developers toward more profitable uses. Walden...

CBS News White House correspondent Aaron Navarro joins Tony Riggsbee to discuss fresh questions about whether the ceasefire with Iran is holding after U.S. forces fired on small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz, and how the Trump administration is framing its response to Congressional pressure under the War Powers Act. Navarro also breaks down a shooting near the White House that briefly trig...

Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff joins Lisa Price for his weekly look at the latest news in the aviation industry.

North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner joins Lisa Price to discuss his letter to the Wake County Board of Commissioners asking them to delay and reconsider their vote on the proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health, and what concerns prompted him to intervene in the process.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to discuss how Americans are increasingly turning to entrepreneurship as the job market softens, walking through the key steps to launching a small business, choosing the right legal structure, and selecting the best retirement savings plan for self-employed workers. Schlesinger also previews Friday's April jobs report, with analysts expecting 6...

Adam Klappholz, head of product at Zelle, joins Lisa Price to discuss how baby boomers with small businesses are increasingly looking to Gen Z and millennials to carry their companies forward, and how Zelle's data showing nearly 30% of all dollars sent on the platform in 2025 flowed to or from small businesses reflects the growing role of digital payments in the small business economy.

Lisa Hunt, managing director at Charles Schwab, joins Lisa Price to discuss National Investing Day on May 1 and how Charles Schwab is helping investors at every experience level get started, stay invested through market cycles and build long-term financial futures. Hunt also explains the origins of National Investing Day and the foundation's work to bring financial education to young people across...

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek joins Tony Riggsbe to discuss recent findings from his office, including a national award-winning audit of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, an investigation into financial misconduct at N.C. A&T State University and his office's ongoing push for greater transparency and accountability in state government.

Dr. Michael Burgess, senior advisor at Communities United for Smart Policy and a retired obstetrician who represented Texas's 26th Congressional District for 22 years, joins Lisa Price to discuss new survey data showing that changes to childhood vaccine recommendations could influence how North Carolinians vote in November, with significant shares of both Republicans and independents saying the is...

Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, and Dr. R.V. Paul Chan, head of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois Chicago, join Lisa Price to discuss the new "Best Eyes for Life" campaign and why 75% of Americans wrongly assume they would notice symptoms before a serious eye condition develops. The two also share steps people c...

Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, director of housing policy at the NC Housing Coalition, joins Lisa Price to discuss NC Housing Day on April 29, when more than 170 advocates from across the state will converge on Halifax Mall in Raleigh to meet with state legislators and call on the General Assembly to fund housing solutions as part of the state budget.

Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff joins Lisa Price to discuss Delta CEO Ed Bastian's comments suggesting higher fares may not come down even if fuel prices drop, the proposed $500 million federal bailout of Spirit Airlines and why Ratliff says it sets a dangerous precedent, and the FAA's consideration of reducing flights at Chicago's airports to address staffing shortages and safety concerns.

Jill Schlesinger of JillOnMoney.com joins Lisa Price to explain why consumer sentiment has hit record lows while retail spending remains surprisingly strong, and what rising wages and household net worth have to do with it. Schlesinger also previews a busy week on the economic calendar, including the Federal Reserve's policy meeting Wednesday, Thursday's first estimate of first quarter GDP growth...