WRAL Daily Download

The exclusive WRAL/WSOC Poll conducted by SurveyUSA asked North Carolinians how they feel about several big talking points for Republican candidates. WRAL Politics reporter Paul Specht shares insight on their responses.

North Carolinians who are likely to vote in 2026 are mostly unsure or pessimistic about their personal finances, say that it’s gotten worse over the past two years, and blame President Donald Trump for it, a new WRAL/WSOC News Poll shows. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the results of that poll.

Democrat Roy Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley by a wide margin in the race to claim North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat as voters sour on President Donald Trump, a new WRAL News Poll shows. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the results.

People in North Carolina are assessing damage after tornadoes touched down across the central part of the state. WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner and WRAL's Louis Fernandez look through the viewer video and reflect on what the data showed on Sunday. This is a developing story, for the latest information, check out WRAL.com.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a law suspending the state's gas tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. It's aimed at lowering prices that have remained elevated since President Donald Trump launched an attack on Iran earlier this year. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains the measure.

The tragic loss of Zoe Welsh shook the Ravenscroft community, but the warning signs were there for decades. WRAL Documentary Investigator Cristin Severance joins the In Depth podcast to discuss her new documentary about the case, "Decades of Warning". We dissect the years of incidents and charges involving Ryan Camacho and the many warning signs that led up to Zoe Welsh's death. 

New claims of burial mistakes at a Raleigh cemetery. Several weeks ago, we first told you about a cemetery mix-up at Montlawn Cemetery.  A family discovered a stranger in a plot they paid for. After that reporting, more viewers told WRAL the same thing happened to them. People who don’t know each other with overlapping facts. WRAL Investigates these latest claims. Alex Littlehales sat d...

Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a breakneck pace, but industry leaders and governments are clashing over how we can keep it under control. WRAL'S Dan Haggerty and Ashley Rowe break down the chaotic landscape of AI regulation.

This Atlantic hurricane season has been pretty inactive so far. Does the quiet now lead to more noise down the road – in the winter? WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels and Louis Fernandez talk through the numbers to see if there's any causation between the two. Plus, how El Nino could impact what we see this winter.

Social Security is a pillar of retirement for older people across the country. Because of a variety of factors, this government program will reach insolvency by 2032. New senators this cycle, including the one elected in North Carolina, will play a pivotal role in crafting solutions in the next six years. For this week's On the Record, WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez...

A Fayetteville father is upset his complaints to Social Services did not help remove his children from dangerous living conditions, even providing documented evidence of his son and daughter being severely injured while living in the home. WRAL's Chris Lovingood investigated the case and explains his reporting process.

Earlier this week, the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act in a bipartisan vote. It would regulate governing payments in NIL deals and how often college athletes can transfer. WRAL's Louis Fernandez and Brian Murphy go in-depth.   

Do you know what's in your fuel? A lawsuit alleges two companies conspired to mix contaminated fuel with clean fuel loads and sell it to drivers at 130 gas stations across the state. WRAL's Keely Arthur talks about the lawsuit and how the companies are responding.

The murder trial in the death of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth began in Durham Monday. The case has gripped the Triangle for more than a decade. WRAL's Monica Casey and Grace Holland answer some of the biggest questions heading to trial.

Sunday, September 27, marks two years since Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, becoming both the deadliest and most economically destructive storm in state history. It's also becoming a hot topic on the campaign trail for our US Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and WRAL News+ anchor Grace Holland talk through the pa...

Robert Murphy Jr. is now facing dozens of charges tied to possible sexual abuse while working with athletes at NC State. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about the new charges, after a judge dismissed a civil lawsuit against Murphy back in 2022. 

President Donald Trump visited Gastonia, NC to back Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Michael Whatley. He discussed violent crime, diesel prices, and more. WRAL's Dan Haggerty was in the room and together with PolitiFact's Paul Specht, we check the facts to determine what's true, false and somewhere in between.

President Donald Trump spoke in Gastonia to give a boost to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. His comments got a strong response from Governor Josh Stein. WRAL's Will Doran and Grace Holland talk through what it reveals about the President's midterm mindset.

WRAL sports investigate reporter Brian Murphy talks about what he learned from investigators who looked into allegations of drug use, sexual relationships and compliance issues within the UNC football program. Murphy met with lead investigators for over an hour on Thursday, the same day Steve Belichick's resignation was announced.

For today's WRAL Daily Download, we're going back in the vault to a previous episode. A new Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of certain additives and contaminants in some widely-sold foods and drinks. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Alex Littlehales explains what the findings show.

As WakeMed plans a massive partnership with Atrium Health, major questions remain about the cost of care, charity care and the potential for a $2 billion investment in the Triangle. WakeMed CEO Donald Gintzig sits down with WRAL's Dan Haggerty to discuss the questions coming from patients.

The fall foliage forecast is out for 2026! WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell spoke with a local expert to go over what our leaves will do this year. The heat, along with inconsistent rain over the summer, has put our area in a less-than-favorable position for fall foliage. What does that mean for the timeline for leaves to change colors? Are there still places in North Carolina where we can see thos...

Less than two months from midterm elections and the campaign trail is heating up for U.S. senate Democratic nominee Roy Cooper and U.S. senate Republican nominee Michael Whatley.  Cooper told supporters at a campaign stop in rural Wayne County Thursday that he stands by his record on public safety, defending his actions as North Carolina governor a day after nationally televised attacks from...

The North Carolina Education Lottery has for years not met its goal of giving out at least 38% of proceeds to public education, which mostly includes K-12 schools, according to a state audit. A state statute indicates that at least 50% should go toward paying out winnings, the auditor said. North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a new report, North Carolina lawmakers and policymakers sho...

What led up to UNC Football's General Manager Michael Lombardi's resignation? WRAL's Pat Welter and Chris Lea walk us through the month leading up to his resignation.