WRAL Daily Download

WRAL Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason speaks with WRAL Anchor Gerald Owens about honoring D-Day and the story of a war hero from Dunn. 

A Greensboro woman says she lost $1,000 while trying to buy Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final tickets through a Facebook group that appeared legitimate. After sending money to the group's administrator for two tickets, the tickets never arrived. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur and Louis Fernandez talk through what happened and what you need to know to protect yourself from similar problems.

June 1 marked the beginning of the hurricane season this year. While the WRAL Severe Weather team's tropical outlook predicts less storms than an average season, if there's one thing we've learned, a hurricane doesn't need to be a category 5 to have a massive effect. WRAL's Aimee Wilmoth and Mark Bergin talk through the history of storms in North Carolina, and how a single storm can leave a lastin...

On this week's episode of On the Record, two of the biggest economic development projects in North Carolina state history are dealing with changes. WRAL's Jack Hagel and Elizabeth Holmes talk through what's happening and what's at stake with VinFast and JetZero. Plus, hear from North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley as North Carolina takes auto manufacturer VinFast to court.

After years of rough roads, lane closures, and hundreds, if not thousands, of orange barrels strewn about I-440, the expansion of Raleigh's Beltline is nearing an end. It comes after a three-year delay. WRAL Digital Producer Mark Bergin and WRAL Investigative Producer Randall Kerr talk about the project's status and what's ahead. 

Car payments are getting harder for families to afford as the cost of groceries, housing, insurance, and other bills continue to rise. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with Ashley Rowe about what families can do get back on track to void delinquency or repossession. 

June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Making preparations ahead of time is always a good idea. WRAL's Mark Bergin and meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth talked through good items to include in your hurricane prep kits.

There are several consitutional amendements North Carolinians will vote on this November. Two of the most notable amendements involve a cap on the state's income tax and a proposal impacting property taxes. WRAL State Government reporter Will Doran breaks down what they include and the politics behind them. 

WRAL's Gerald Owens and Scott Mason talk through a few upcoming Tar Heel Traveler stories including the history behind the "world's oldest longleaf pine" and a couple starting a new journey with bicycle spokes.

A Benson family says their dog was hit by an Amazon delivery driver, who drove off. Though the dog is expected to be okay, the family asked Amazon to help pay their mounting vet bills. They called 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur to get help. 

Granville and Cumberland counties lost the most schools as costs to school districts is leading to merge and close schools. It's a trend being seen for public schools across the country. WRAL's Destinee Patterson and Emily Walkenhorst discuss what it means for the next generation of students.

Warm oceans, shifting wind shear, building tropical energy. The WRAL Severe Weather Team is analyzing EVERY atmospheric signal - to forecast what hurricane season 2026 could bring. Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth talks through some of the different variables and shares the WRAL Severe Weather Team's 2026 hurricane outlook.  

After about a year without a state budget, North Carolina lawmakers are one step closer to delivering one before the July 1 deadline. They've agreed on some things, like possible raises for state employees and tax cuts. But what else needs to be worked out before it hits Governor Stein's desk? Will he even sign it once it does? WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran talks with WRAL's Elizabeth...

North Carolina is the only state in the country without a new budget, but GOP lawmakers say they've reached a deal on taxes and state employee raises, two of the main sticking points. Is it enough for the most experienced educators in the state? WRAL news reporter Carly Haynes and education insider Emily Walkenhorst talk through the concerns and what the future of education looks like in the state...

WRAL Anchor Gerald Owens speaks with Scott Mason, known as the Tar Heel Traveler, about hidden gems and unique stories he's encountered across North Carolina. 

A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has sparked some fears and concerns just years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Three cruise ship passengers have died, and six people with confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus are being quarantined, according to the world health organization. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed one person from No...

Earlier this week, Wake County Public Schools shared that Canvas, a massive educational platform used for assignments, grading, exams, and other things, had been breached by hackers. What does it mean for school systems and their students' data? WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst speaks with WRAL's Elizabeth Holmes about the impact. 

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is still figuring out how many districts were impacts by a breach of the Canvas learning management system. Wake and Durham Counties confirm that their students' and teachers' data was impacted. WRAL's Destinee Patterson explains what it means for schools' cybersecurity

If you're a Duke Energy customer, or have to pay an electric bill to any company, you'll want to hear these tips on how to bring down your energy costs from 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur. 

Even after recent rain, much of North Carolina remains in drought conditions. WRAL Meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner explain how dry weather could affect mosquito populations.

State lawmakers, the Raleigh mayor, a group that represents state employees and the state’s elected attorney general, auditor and treasurer are among those weighing in on a takeover deal between two state hospital systems. Atrium Health is in position to take control of WakeMed. WRAL state government editor Jack Hagel looks at what the deal would mean, why some officials are sounding the ala...

State lawmakers are homing in on housing expenses as North Carolinians sour on the economy, with rising concerns over the cost of living and broader economic conditions. North Carolina lawmakers are proposing a variety of new initiatives to address the rising cost of living, everything from freezing reappraisals to easing development to boost supply. WRAL state government reporter Paul Specht talk...

A new report from the National Education Association ranks the state 43rd in average teacher pay and 38th in starting teacher pay. These rankings are about the same as last year. This is all based on data from the 2024-25 school year. Teachers haven't received raises for the current school year, because the North Carolina legislature has yet to pass a new budget. Without a raise, North Carolina te...

Most of the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions, causing a statewide burn ban and water restrictions in different localities. The lack of rain means we've also seen a lack of severe weather in our area. WRAL Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth speaks with Digital Producer Jaylin Jones about how this year's weather compares to years prior. 

St. Augustine's University filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy according to court documents filed this week. It comes after years of financial struggles for the HBCU . WRAL's Destinee Patterson explains how we got here.