WRAL Daily Download

It's been a week since Pro-Palestinian protesters at UNC first put tents up on a campus quad. Since then, protests and rallies have come and gone on campus after clashes with police and administrators. Thursday, the University put up a 12-foot fence along the quad and closed the campus YMCA. WRAL Matt Talhelm and Chelsea Donovan explain how we got here.

There's a chance your future may include fewer flu shots. Researchers at Duke are trying to create a vaccine that could last for years, instead of having to get a new one each fall. WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba breaks down the two ways research groups are trying to get there.

Four officers were killed Monday while trying to serve a warrant at an east Charlotte home. A total of eight officers were shot, according to police. As news broke, WRAL News sent a team of reporters across the state. Eric Miller joins Ali Ingersoll to share the latest details. 

You might have seen these kits on Amazon or at Home Depot – tiny homes in a box. WRAL’s 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong started looking into them to see if they’re worth buying. He joins Ali Ingersoll to talk about some of the hidden costs and interesting history of box homes in Raleigh.

North Carolina’s $500 million investment in NCInnovation — a GOP-backed group designed to help the state capitalize on discoveries in state universities — is drawing scrutiny from one of the state’s most powerful Republicans. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains the allegations — and why the group denied them.

There’s an ancient legend hidden among the historic buildings in the grassy knoll called McCorkle Place on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus. It’s a witness to history—the Davie Poplar tree, as it's known, has been there longer than the university. WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah shared the legends and the romance behind this magnificent antique giant.

A UNC Health Physician and a pilot survived when a small plane when it crashed near the RDU runway Wednesday. As the investigation into what caused the crash began, so did headaches for travelers. WRAL Durham Reporter Monica Casey walks through what she saw while reporting near the tarmac.

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a miracle comeback in Game 2 of their first-round series against the New York Islanders. Why the win could boost the Hurricanes to another deep run in the playoffs. Carolina is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

History could repeat itself this political season, polling shows. North Carolina could once again vote for a Republican president while simultaneously putting a Democrat in the governor’s mansion. Ali Ingersoll talks with WRAL State Capitol reporter Brian Murphy about the poll. 

State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week to start the 2024 legislative session. They’re expected to make updates to the state budget, and they’ll have a $1 billion budget surplus to divvy up. But other hot-button issues could be on the agenda, too. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the priorities for the Republican-led legislature in the months ahead. 

There are less than 100 days until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Ali Ingersoll talks with both Liz McLaughlin and Louis Fernandez about the preparations. 

Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin announced Tuesday she will not run for a third term due to health concerns. She has served the city for 15 years, first as a city councilor. WRAL Reporter Matt Talhelm walks us through her two terms as mayor.

A 22-year-old man faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted of kidnapping and raping a 12-year-old girl. Her family says she met the man on a gaming app. The defendant's attorney says she was posing as a college student. WRAL's Chelsea Donovan explains what other parents can learn from the case to protect their children.

Two Republicans are still competing for the GOP nomination to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District. Leading up to a May 14 runoff, Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott are accusing each other of holding secret liberal beliefs. WRAL State Government Reporter explains why they’re focused on each other’s ties to Democrats, and why immigration has been such a big talking p...

Japan's Prime Minister is in North Carolina Friday--a rare visit to a U.S. state by a foreign leader. It's a visit based on business. There are more than 200 Japanese companies operating here. It also comes in the same week that another investment by a Japanese company was announced. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what this vist could mean for North Carolina's economic future.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting the first-ever drinking water standards for PFAS, an announcement officials made this week in Fayetteville. These forever chemicals have been found in drinking water across North Carolina and are linked to health risks. WRAL Climate Reporter Liz Mclaughlin explains how these changes will impact our state.

Most of us have experienced this: driving downt he road at night when suddenly you're blinded by a car coming the opposite direction. Adaptive Driving Beam headlights were designed to prevent that from happening but, as 5 On Your Side's producer Pritchard Strong tells Ali Ingersoll, they're not active in the U.S.

Durham has paid more than $2 million to a family of a 24-year-old mother who died in a crash following a police chase. WRAL Investigative Journalist Sarah Krueger talks to Ali Ingersoll about the lawsuit and settlement. 

Parents of children with dyslexia often spend thousands of dollars on private education — even when their children attend public schools. North Carolina is now changing how it teaches reading to children. The shift is expected to better serve students with dyslexia. But many parents say more needs to be done. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explains.

After a last minute change in headliners, Dreamville gets started Saturday. The hip hop festival created by Fayetteville Native and rapper J. Cole brings hundreds of thousands of people, and hundreds of millions of dollars, to Raleigh. WRAL News Reporter Destinee Patterson explains changes to this year's event.

North Carolina State Men's and Women's Basketball are both Final Four bound and it's paying off for bettors. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy breaks down what this tournament run has meant for payoffs.

WRAL Investigates found nearly 200 code violations in just one year filed against the complex yet the city hasn't fined the management company. Investigative journalist Sarah Krueger joins Ali Ingersoll to talk about her reporting. 

During March Madness, anything can happen. Both NC State's women's and men's basketball teams are in the Final Four. Ali Ingersoll talks to Louis Fernandez and Eric Miller about the historic run. 

As the Israel-Hamas conflict drags on, President Joe Biden is trying to strike a delicate balance between standing firmly behind Israel while also placating supporters who think the U.S. should do more to help Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire — and all without upsetting voters aligned with Israel. How Biden approaches the issue could be one deciding factor in whether he or forme...

You might remember the story about Bob the Cat. He was found in Fuquay Varina a few months ago but his micro chip linked him to a woman in Kansas. After an injunction from the court, he was set to head back to Witchita but that never happened. Ali Ingersoll talks with 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong about where the cat is now and the legal battle that continues.