WPTF Morning News

A new report says nearly half of all small-business owners use their personal credit cards to help fund their company. Is that a smart idea? Rob Connett asked small business expert Ray Keating for his thoughts.

Another hot day, followed by a beautiful weekend. Laura Smith from CBS 17 tells you all you need to know about the weather and what to expect this weekend. She also tells us a little but about her vacation habits.

Staying safe in the sun is something that we all need to know about, especially lately with this heat. Dr. Shweta Shukla from UNC Health is here to give us tips and advice, from the type of sunscreen to use, to the signs of heat stroke.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein wants all AGs around the country to have more power when it comes to holding airline companies accountable. That was one of a few topics he discussed this morning with Rob Connett.

Wednesday's EF-3 tornado left some significant damage in Nash and Edgecombe counties, and Nick Petro with the National Weather Service got a first-hand look. He talked with Rob Connett on the WPTF Morning Show about just how rare the weather event was for North Carolina, and why you should always be prepared, even if there is "only" a "Level 1" risk of severe weather in the forecast.

CBS 17 Meteorologist Lance Blocker explains how Wednesday afternoon's EF-3 tornado in Nash County came together so quickly, and just how rare the event was for North Carolina.

How well does the morning crew know "Barbie"? Rob put Harrison, Champ, Jeff, and Mike up to the test in a little "True or False" about the doll.

CBS 17 Meteorologist Laura Smith is back to talk about another hot day in the Triangle, with heat indices in the triple digits. And it's not letting up any time soon.

Marcus Manning, Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission, discusses the addition of two board members, and what the organization is working on to expand coverage of youth sports in the Durham and surrounding areas.

Christian Madsbjerg, author of "LOOK: how to pay Attention in a Distracted World" talks about the science of observation and how hyper-reflection can help pole enhance their success by becoming better connected. He discusses his nine lessons for observation, the importance of paying attention, philosophy, and the ethics of observation. Podcast Cover Photo Courtesy: Penguin Random House (July 2023)

The smoky, hazy skies are back today. CBS 17 Meteorologist Laura Smith explains why, and what it means to be under a "Code Orange" air quality alert day.

US Army and Air Forces veteran Ryan Burgos, appointed Employment Director of Disabled American Veterans in 2023, discusses National Hire a Veteran Day and the underemployment of veterans in the United States. Burgos provides an overview of veteran underemployment, mentoring programs, and spousal transition.

Rob's Mom and Dad are here in studio and bring the morning crew a little taste of the Hoosier lifestyle with some sugar cream pie.

CBS 17 Meteorologist Laura Smith gives an update on the hazy skies from the Canadian wildfires, and when the next time we can expect a chance of rain and thunderstorms. She also gives us her "good news" of the day.

Dominant Champion Wrestling is back again hosting an event called "Trial by Fire" in Selma, North Carolina, coming up in August. AC Devine, Dynamite Jackson and TIM tell you everything you need to know about this event.

Last week, we got the news that inflation has slowed down a little bit. CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger was on the WPTF Morning Show to discuss some of the factors that have recently gone into that.

Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory is leading the potential creation of a third-option party for the 2024 presidential election. He talked about the "No Labels" party with Rob Connett.

Weather played a huge role in flight delays and cancellations across many parts of the country on Sunday. And if you're flying out of RDU today, you might want to double check your flight status, depending on where you're heading. Aviation analyst Jay Ratliff talked about that this morning with Rob Connett.

CBS 17 Meteorologist Laura Smith talks about this morning's thunderstorms, and the threat of more rain and storms this weekend in the Triangle.

Dr. Danielle Wikoff of ToxStrategies discusses the World Health Organization's (WHO) report released on Thursday Night, about the safety of the artificial sweetener and food additive aspartame. Wikoff is on the Science Advisory Council for the Evidence-Based Toxicology Collaboration (EBTC) and co-author of the World Heath Organization's systematic review framework.

Smith Raynor from North Carolina State Parks talks about the awarding of $1.6 Million in grants from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to communities in North Carolina for trail projects across the state.

The Savannah Bananas have become the "Harlem Globetrotters" of baseball, bringing wacky rules and a new level of entertainment to the diamond. And they're bringing their world tour to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park this weekend. Rob Connett got to talk to one of their players, North Carolina native Eric Jones.

Drew Blake runs "Guiding Eyes Outdoors," an organization here in the Triangle that helps veterans and the visually impaired enjoy the outdoors, like hiking and fishing. Rob Connett talked with Drew about the unique and amazing things they are currently working on to expand across the state.

Parts of Vermont continue to be underwater from extreme flooding. CBS News correspondent Jim Krasula, who has been covering that and other national weather-related headlines, joined the WPTF Morning Show to discuss the latest updates.

When you were a kid, what was your bedroom like? What did you have in it? That was the topic today on the WPTF Morning Show "Roundtable," and the crew found out about Jon Champion's love for Farrah Fawcett.