WRAL Daily Download

It’s been the topic of heated debate across the country and here in North Carolina. How does the map that defines where people vote impact the outcome of elections locally and nationally? WRAL’s state government reporter Will Doran joins us in this episode the break down what redistricting is, how it works and what it means to voters.

Thieves busted a Raleigh woman’s car window and stole her purse, but that was just the beginning. Months later scammers had cleaned out her account, and she was caught in an unhelpful loop with the bank’s customer service. Until she called Keely. WRAL 5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur returns to make sure YOU know how to protect yourself from hackers and thieves.

A recent report finds that North Carolina’s universities need to do more to prepare educators to teach reading to the state’s K-12 students. The situation has raised the ire of University of North Carolina Board of Governors, which is now threatening action if they don’t turn things around. The UNC system’s universities have less than four months to improve. WRAL Education...

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the lake where you are swimming? Well, lakes in North Carolina have other worlds lurking beneath their surfaces including a train, an airplane, cemeteries, and remnants of lost rural communities. In this episode, WRAL Hidden History reporter Heather Leah takes us underwater to reveal the mysteries of the deep.    arv3bqmd

Have you ever wondered why there is a crumbling chimney or a rusted car along the trail where you’re hiking in the Triangle? You may have even walked by an old cemetery in the woods and not even seen it. In this episode, WRAL’s Hidden History reporter, Heather Leah, takes us to some of these spots along hiking trails in our area and shares the stories behind some of these unusual monum...

More than 4000 people in North Carolina died from drug overdoses in 2021. This is the highest number of drug-abuse deaths ever recorded in our state in a single year. 77% of those deaths involved fentanyl according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In this episode, WRAL documentary reporter and producer Cristin Severance tells us about her upcoming documentary: “...

Weighed down with high expectations, UNC’s men’s basketball team never really got it going this season. Now they’ve missed the NCAA Tournament, despite starting the season ranked No. 1. What went wrong? Where do the Tarheels go from here? How much are Duke and NC State fans loving this? WRAL Sports Director Jason Jennings visits the Daily Download to hash it all out.

The new Republican majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court recently made the extraordinary decision to rehear two big voting rights cases that Democrats won in 2022. The justices’ choice, which questions decisions by the previous Democratic-majority court, could reverberate well beyond the 2024 elections and they raise philosophical questions about the court’s path forward. WRAL S...

In 1961, a B-52 Bomber bound for the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base crashed in Wayne County. It was carrying two nuclear bombs which fell into the wetlands there. Amazingly, they did not detonate. Most of the evidence of the nuclear bombs has been removed from the site…but they didn’t get all of it. And many people remember the day as the day their world almost changed forever. Hidden...

What is the secret to not just aging gracefully, but to thriving as we get older? Currently, there are 56 million people over 65 in our country according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amounts to almost 17% of the population. WRAL senior Durham reporter Sarah Krueger spoke to seniors about what they believe are the secrets to aging well.

Born during the pandemic, this show hosted by four local arts councils in the Triangle recognizes the immense talent that we have in our area. WRAL showcases this talent in the third annual show and raises money for the organizations that make arts programming possible throughout the region. Producer Don Ursich joins me along with Jennifer McEwen, President and CEO of the United Arts Council of Ra...

If you’re a parent looking for children’s over-the-counter pain and fever medication at your local pharmacy in the Triangle you may be surprised to find the shelves sparse. Multiple illnesses over the winter increased the need for these drugs, and the supply still hasn’t bounced back. WRAL’s 5 on Your Side producer Pritchard Strong breaks it down for us.

Republican legislators are meeting privately to discuss tightening North Carolina’s abortion law, which currently bans the procedure after 20 weeks. They want to reduce that time, but the question is by how much. Whatever they propose, GOP leaders in the General Assembly will need help from Democrats to bypass an expected veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis...

Today, fathers are often equal partners when it comes to parenting. The joys of juggling twins and a toddler is a new experience for WRAL anchor Ken Smith and his wife Amanda. In this episode, Ken gets personal and explains what it’s like to balance work and parenthood. He makes it look easy. But don’t be fooled by his big smile and his infectious laughter -- he’s tired.

The top leaders in North Carolina’s legislature reached an agreement that is expected to expand Medicaid coverage. The momentous deal, announced Thursday, is the culmination of more than a decade of political wrangling and a Republican change of heart. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain breaks down the plan, along with the machinations and the politics that got us here.

All but 13 states have laws that allow marijuana to be prescribed by doctors for medical use. North Carolina is considering such a law. This week in their initial vote senators passed the legislation by a vote of 36 to 10. Once it passes a second vote, it heads to the State House for their approval. Those opposed to it don’t believe it really works and are concerned this will open the door to over...

Gone are the days when people simply book hotels when they travel. Instead, travelers are taking advantage of the 8 million rentals available in nearly 200 countries around the world through multiple platforms. WRAL’s 5 on Your Side reporter Keely Arthur tells us about one woman’s bad experiences with VRBO and how Keely’s team helped her get her money back and her bad review deleted. Also, tips on...

If a fire breaks out at your house, experts estimate you have 3 minutes to escape. That’s far less time than 30 years ago. The reason: Synthetic materials that make up household items these days burn hotter, and faster, than older, heavier ones. One house fire in Alamance County broke out because someone put the wrong material jacket in a dryer.

High-profile incidents involving guns in public schools are prompting school systems to investigate the best ways to beef up security. North Carolina education leaders are exploring metal detectors and new-fangled weapons detection systems, but several experts caution that those systems may not be worth the millions of dollars they cost. WRAL Education Reporter Emily Walkenhorst explains how thing...

Back in the spring of 1963, civil rights leader Floyd McKissick, Sr. invited Malcolm X to the Triangle for a debate about assimilation versus integration within the fight for equality. The debate almost didn't happen when the city of Durham pulled its support and venue -- eventually a new venue was found, and McKissick Sr.’s young son Floyd McKissick Jr. was among those in the audience. McKissick...

Floyd McKissick Sr. worked with civil rights leaders that including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. When race kept him from getting into UNC Law School, McKissick fought back in court and won. Eventually, his case would be used as the basis for the landmark desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. Reporter and anchor Ken Smith interviewed his son Floyd McKissick Jr. who shares his...

When inflation rises, so do corporate profits. WRAL Investigates looked at how the desire to make more money is raising what you pay for food at the grocery store.

A Republican-backed piece of legislation called the Parents’ Bill of Rights has passed the North Carolina Senate and is on its way to the House. The law would require teachers to tell parents when students are questioning their gender. Supporters of the bill say parents have a right to know this information. Those opposed to the bill, including many LGBTQ advocates, say this could cause some paren...

An anti-rioting bill has passed in the state House and is on its way to the state Senate for debate. Supporters say the bill is aimed at quelling violent protests. People who are against it say it is racist and unconstitutional. They believe it would be unfairly used to target Black Lives Matter protests and arrest people who are exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. WRAL’s...

Thousands of jobs remain open across North Carolina’s government, hampering the state’s ability to offer basic services to a booming population. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains what the state is doing to recruit and retain workers in a tricky job market — and while agencies wait to see if legislators will deliver a budget that gives state workers a pay bump.