Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode. Today: 45 foster children hoping to find their forever families, a baseball player who overcame incredible odds to reach the majors, a map of every pinball machine in the Triangle, and a new Indian restaurant opening in Cary.
LINKS: Wake County Hosts Adoption Fair: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/wake-county-hosts-adoption-fair-to-connect-with-prospective-parents-for-children-in-need/
Otto Kemp Overcomes Odds to Make Major Leagues: https://viewpoint.pointloma.edu/otto-kemp-overcomes-odds-to-make-major-leagues-in-2025/
Discover The Triangle's Pinball Scene with the Pinball Map: https://triangleonthecheap.com/pinball-map-raleigh-durham-chapel-hill/
In Cary, surge in upscale Indian restaurants continues: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/11/10/reserve-indian-cary.html?ana=brss_5045
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Episode Transcript
Good morning. I'm Steve Rodd.
And you're not? Hello.
Wake County. Right now, at the Jim Graham
Building in downtown Raleigh, there are 45 kids waiting to
meet their forever families. Also, there's a baseball player
who just got injured so many times he lost his Division One
scholarship, went undrafted and then made it to the major
(00:21):
leagues anyway at 22. And someone just mapped out
every single pinball machine in the Triangle.
Yeah, everyone, so you can chasethat retro arcade wherever you
are. I'm glad you're back with me
today. I really am.
Actually. Stick around.
I've got your dad joke for you. It's at the end and it will be
(00:47):
safe for the kiddos in the cars.So Wake County's hosting an
adoption fair. There are 45 kids in foster care
who are hoping this is the day they get to meet their forever
family. The whole point of this event is
to create one-on-one connectionsbetween kids and prospective
parents. Not just paperwork, not just
(01:10):
profiles, actual face to face conversations where a kid gets
to meet someone who might becometheir mom or their dad. 45
children. That's 45 kids, hoping someone
sees them and says, yeah, we'd love to raise you.
(01:33):
If adoption has ever crossed your mind, or even just as a
thought, not as a plan, this might be the nudge you need.
This is happening, real kids, real opportunity to change a
life. And the links for all the
stories today are in the description, as always.
All right, this next one's abouta guy who refused to accept that
(01:55):
his baseball career was over multiple times.
Otto Kemp is 22 years old right now.
He's starting for the Philadelphia Phillies in the
major leagues. Let me tell you how unlikely
that is. In high school, Kemp got injured
so many times that Division One schools stopped recruiting him.
(02:16):
Nope, not for us. No scholarship offers and his
baseball career. For most people, they thought it
was done. But Otto went to Point Loma
Nazarene, a Division Two school in San Diego, and he kept
playing. And then more injuries, A
(02:37):
dislocated shoulder and then a blood clot that cost him
significant time. And when the 2022 MLB Draft came
around, nobody picked them. Nobody wanted him.
Not one team in all 20 rounds. And most people would have hung
up their cleats right there. But Otto didn't.
(03:01):
A few days after the draft, the Phillies called and offered him
a spot. Not on the major team, but on
their rookie league team. Three years later.
Three years of grinding, healingand proving himself.
He made his Major League debut in June.
Here's the wild part. In 27 games, he was batting 260
(03:22):
with two home runs. And when Bryce Harper got
injured, Otto filled in at firstbase.
When Harper came back, Otto shifted to the outfield.
Whoever they needed him, he showed up.
Bryce Harper, who was the 1st overall pick in the 2010 draft,
said this about Otto. He's a grinder, man.
(03:43):
It doesn't matter where you play.
Scouts will see you as long as you're playing well and playing
hard. And Otto, well, he said this
about all those injuries. I see it as the reason I got
here. Every single one of those
injuries taught me something different.
I'm really grateful for them, honestly.
(04:06):
And that's what commitment lookslike.
That's what refusing to quit looks like.
Otto's the first position playerfrom Division Two Point Loma
Nazarene to ever make the majors, and he's hoping his
story shows other players at small schools that they can make
it too. You'll love to see this quick,
(04:31):
fun one for you. Someone just mapped out every
pinball machine in the Triangle.Triangle on the cheap.
Put together this whole interactive map showing you
where to find pinball machines in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel
Hill. Yeah, it's a thing.
Classic arcades, dive bars, a few hidden gems you didn't know
had a machine tucked in the corner.
(04:53):
If you're someone who loves the retro thrill of pinball, that
satisfying clack of the flippers, the tilt warning, the
chase for high score, well, thismap is going to be your new best
friend. I kind of love that someone took
the time to do this. It's one of those I didn't know
I needed it, but now I'm definitely using it.
(05:15):
Things might be a fun excuse to check out a spot you've never
been to before. Just follow the pinball trail.
And one more, if you've noticed more upscale Indian restaurants
popping up around Cary, you're not imagining it.
Reserve Indian is gearing up to open on Cary Parkway, right next
(05:38):
to Naus Hellenic and Nana Morrison's.
The Triangle Business Journal says it's part of this whole
surge of high end Indian dining in in Carrie.
Carrie's quietly becoming a foodie's dream.
You got all these international options and local spots, your
high end places. It's all right there.
(05:59):
Another tasty option for your rotation.
All right, I got your dad joke. But first, I got your reminder
that links to all these stories are in the show description.
Want to know more? Click on the links.
Want to get free emails when thenext show drops?
Go to tapyournews.com. Sign up for the free e-mail.
(06:23):
It's free. Did I mention it's free?
All right, make sure to follow on whatever platform you're
listening on. Leave a five star review while
you're there. Send this to someone who would
love to know about one of these stories and be prepared to
listen to your dad joke. Which days are the strongest?
(06:46):
Well, Saturday and Sunday of course, because the rest are
weekdays. All right, till next time,
remember I love you. Stay awesome and I'll see you
tomorrow.
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