WRAL Daily Download

Major League Baseball is likely to expand by two teams in the near future. The owner of the Carolina Hurricanes wants Raleigh and North Carolina to be part of this conversation. North Carolina is home to franchises in the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLS and NWSL as well hosting NASCAR and PGA Tour events annually. It’s still very early in the process of putting together a potential MLB ownership group an...

One year ago this month, the unthinkable happened in Raleigh. Five people were killed and another person was critically injured after witnesses say a teenager opened fire on a greenway at the end of the workday. The suspect, 15-year-old Austin Thompson, was also wounded. It was expected that his case would ultimately move from juvenile court to superior court where he would be charged as an adult....

As a parent, or an employer, it can be extremely frustrating. A big storm is predicted, schools are closed, and parents are home with their kids trying to balance work and child care. And to make it even worse, sometimes that big storm never materializes. In this episode, WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell shares what she learned about how school systems make decisions to delay and cancel classes due...

When Republican lawmakers crafted the North Carolina budget, they set aside a big chunk of change for ambitious economic development projects. One-tenth of the $30 billion spending plan is devoted to projects meant to attract companies to the state and keep existing ones here. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran breaks down some of the biggest economic development earmarks in the 1,400-page...

About 100,000 babies are born in the U.S. every year thanks to invitro fertilization known as IVF. But as the interest in IVF increases, so does the wait times for treatment. It can take up to six months just to get an initial consultation. In this episode, WRAL Investigates’ reporter Sarah Krueger shares what she learned about the process.    

Raleigh’s Catholic Diocese is about to celebrate its one-hundred-year anniversary. The area is now home to half a million practicing Catholics. In this episode, WRAL anchor and reporter Debra Morgan shares her experience interviewing with Bishop Luis Zarama. He talks about how the church weathered the pandemic and has managed to thrive. He also reflects on the sacred beauty of slowing down a...

A quarter of a million people gathered in our nation’s capital 60 years ago on August 28, 1963, for the March on Washington headed by Dr. Martin Luther King. The historic event is largely credited as helping pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. One of the people in that crowd was veteran North Carolina state lawmaker Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham. He has vivid memories of that day. Michaux just t...

First there is the relief…you’re okay, your family is okay. Then there is the realization that your property is not okay . Hurricanes can wreak havoc on your home. From downed trees, to holes in your roof, to flooding, knowing what to do and where to turn after a storm damages your property can be overwhelming. In this episode, WRAL’s 5 On Your Side reporter Keely Arthur shares...

Remote teaching during the pandemic wasn’t the best way for many students to learn, but it was a stopgap measure to help schools get through the crisis. Now, some schools across the state are finding themselves turning to virtual teaching companies to help them fill the vacancies left by an extreme teacher shortage. In this episode, WRAL education reporter Emily Walkenhorst explains exactly...

The pandemic set children back in so many areas—academically, socially, and emotionally. For many parents, helping their children regain what they lost and thrive has been a major struggle. In this episode, we speak to local author Dr. Rebecca Jackson about how brain development impacts everything our children do. In her new book, Back on Track, she helps guide parents to create an action pl...

For months, Republicans have been battling over items in the $30 billion state budget. The biggest obstacle was a plan to expand gambling in North Carolina. GOP lawmakers finally agreed to table this for now so that the budget can move forward. The current proposal includes a 7% pay increase for state workers, including teachers, over the next two years. It also continues the goal of lowering the...

It was off, and now, it’s on again. One year after 11-year-old dancer Hailey Brooks was accidentally run over and killed by a pickup truck pulling her dance school’s float as thousands of people watched, the status of the Raleigh Christmas Parade is more confusing than ever. Initially, the city refused to permit the parade saying it was out of respect for Hailey’s memory. The fam...

Who doesn’t love lighthouses? The North Carolina coast is almost synonymous with the majestic structures that have been maritime beacons for centuries. Most of us have not visited every single lighthouse in the state. WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason is doing his best to see all of them. In this episode, he gives us insight into the unique history of each lighthouse and tells us wh...

A mental evaluation revealed that the man accused of shooting a professor at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill lacks the mental capacity to be tried for the crime. Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old doctoral student, is charged with first degree murder in the August 28 th shooting of Associate Professor Zijie Yan that caused a campus-wide lockdown for several hours. WRAL Investigates’ re...

Nearly 5000 elevators, escalators and lifts are behind on their inspections in North Carolina. A large portion of them are in Wake County. While accidents are rare, they can be fatal. WRAL spoke to the husband of a woman who died in an elevator accident at work. He wants there to be more awareness about elevator safety. In this episode, WRAL Investigates' reporter Sarah Krueger shares what her tea...

The lawsuit that ended race-based admissions at universities around the country cost the University of North Carolina nearly $25 million to defend. Most of that money went to an international law firm whose attorneys charged the university nearly $1000 an hour. The cost provides insight into the financial impact of high-profile cases on universities. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain brea...

Less than two months after a WRAL investigation into the death of a second child in the care of Nash County’s Department of Social Services, the state of North Carolina is taking over the agency’s troubled welfare section. This is a rare and drastic action for the state to get involved in the operation of a county DSS. In this episode, WRAL anchor and reporter Lena Tillett explains the...

The nationwide manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison on August 31 st, is finally over. He was captured Wednesday morning without incident. But the experience has put many communities on edge in this largely rural area. Prior to his capture, he was spotted on Ring doorbell cameras in the vicinity. Authorities say he changed his appearance and sto...

It feels like we are always preparing for storms, and sometimes they never come. But when they do come, there are very specific things you need to have on hand in case of an emergency. You could lose power. Roads could be impassible. After major storms, there can be shortages of gas, water, and groceries. These are all things we need to think about during hurricane season. It’s better to be...

Imagine you are a woman just getting out of prison and trying to get a job. Or you’re living in a shelter and trying to get a job. There are so many barriers for women coming from vulnerable situations to employment. For women struggling with poverty, emerging from human trafficking or domestic abuse, finding a job can seem hopeless. This is where Designed for Joy steps in. The Raleigh nonpr...

Republican state lawmakers are considering a bill that could change the way North Carolina's elections are administered. It's a nuanced bill, but here's the upshot: If it passes, it could help Republicans strengthen control of state politics for years to come. It's one of several GOP efforts this year to re-shape how politicians are elected in the state. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran e...

In a split second you must decide. Should I run, hide or fight? It can be a lifesaving decision or a dangerous risk. How you and your family react during an active shooter lockdown can make the difference between life and death. We watched this very situation unfold last week on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. WRAL Investigates asked security experts if it’s safer to shelter in place or to ge...

A 27 year old Raleigh restaurant manager died after he was assaulted a block from his workplace last week. David Millette, who worked at the Midwood Smokehouse, was attacked on Glenwood South just before 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26. He died in the hospital a few days later. 23 year old Tyrell Moore is charged in Millette's murder. The incident is shining a spotlight on what many people believ...

A North Carolina State University student was found dead outside a residence hall Monday afternoon by several students. NCSU Chancellor Randy Woodson sent a note to the campus community acknowledging their grief and urging them to seek mental health services if they are struggling. The school has its own crisis lifeline that students can call or text 988 to receive free and confidential support. T...

It’s here to stay. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle. I’m talking about artificial intelligence tools that are available to anyone who has access to the internet. AI can write papers, solve complex equations, and answer test or homework questions in seconds. So, how do we allow students to use these tools responsibly for better understanding, but keep them from using AI t...