WRAL Daily Download
The WRAL Daily Download is an in-depth conversation about a single news story. WRAL covers news across North Carolina every day, but this podcast focuses on one story at a time, bringing context to each conversation. The in-depth, localized podcast takes you into the latest stories from Raleigh, Durham, and the entire Triangle region on North Carolina. This is community news aimed at keeping you informed about the more subtle stories that are happening around you. Hosted by WRAL News journalists, episodes post weekdays by 4:30am.
Episodes
Earlier this week, the North Carolina General Assembly announced a comittee to look into ways to lower property taxes. It's unusual, since property tax revenue stays in the cities and counties that collect those taxes. WRAL's Will Doran explains what this says about housing affordabilty in our state.
A top North Carolina legislator yelled and threw a book Wednesday during a legislative hearing where lawmakers grilled Chapel Hill-Carrboro school officials about ignoring parts of the "Parents' Bill of Rights" law. That law limits discussion of gender identity among some of the state's youngest students. WRAL's Flynn Snyder was at the hearing and explains how school officials are responding.
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The Lumbee Tribe in the southeastern part of our state have been calling for federal recogition for as long as people have been fighting against it. A vote in Congress could finally make that recognition a reality. WRAL's Will Doran explains what will change if and when its approved.
At least nine North Carolina children were shot this year - with one very preventable cause: an unsecured gun. Four of those kids died. These stories are difficult to hear, but bring up important questions. WRAL Investigative reporter Sarah Krueger looks into who has been charged in these cases, what kind of charges they face and what is the state doing to prevent these deaths.
Proposed changes to North Carolina's math standards would shake up requirements for upperclassmen in the state’s public high schools and emphasize real-world problem-solving in all grade levels. Education leaders say they want to make math more interesting and relevant to students. WRAL Education Reporter Emily Walkenhorst explains.
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Michael Whatley in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race isn’t deterring other Republicans from the race.
Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman who Trump endorsed this summer, is expected to face Waxhaw lawyer Don Brown and teacher Elizabeth Temple of Smithfield in the GOP primary to replace outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who...
The fallout from a fire that caused two million dollars in roof damage to the Raleigh Convention Center continues. While some events have been cancelled or postponed, neighboring towns' convention centers are offering to host if needed. WRAL's Heidi Kirk explains where the investigation into the cause stands.
UNC Health and Cigna have yet to come to an agreement on a contract renewal. While they continue negotiating, real people are finding ways to navigate potentially life-saving procedures without spending an exorbitant amount of money. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher spoke with one woman ahead of her scheduled hysterectomy on Tuesday. Plus, what we know about insurance company contracts with healthcare providers across th...
The college football regular season is over, so let's look back on how things went for the ACC Triangle teams. WRAL sports investigative reporter Brian Murphy talks about Dave Doeren's return, season one under Bill Belichick and Duke's surprise trip to the ACC Championship. Plus, Murphy dives into the college football playoff outlook for Duke and the ACC.
Four years ago consumer electronics giant Apple Inc. promised to create 3,000 jobs and build a hulking new campus in Research Triangle Park. But so far construction hasn’t started. And the company says it needs more time to meet hiring goals tied to hundreds of millions of dollars in state economic incentives. WRAL State Government Editor Jack Hagel explains why state officials agreed to adju...
The holiday season is upon us, and for many, that means buying gifts and looking for deals. WRAL SmartShopper Faye Prosser talks us through the best deals and the best strategies to not pay too much in store or online during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and everything in between.
The Federal Aviation Administration expected this Thanksgiving travel season to be the busiest in 15 years. We speakk with 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur about how to best prepare for travel turbulence you may experience when flying.
A week from today marks three years since the attack on two Duke Energy substations in Moore County that left tens of thousands of people in the dark, even resulting in one woman's death. No one has been arrested. WRAL Investigates Sarah Krueger talks about where things stand and what's next for the investigation and the community.
The days are darker, the temperatures are dropping - winter is almost here. What should we expect this season? The WRAL Severe Weather Team has released its winter weather outlook. WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth explains what the team looks for, how it puts together its predictions and what to expect for all you snow lovers out there.
Did the recent federal immigration crackdown in North Carolina actually help traffic? Are jails blocking acess to inmates? Our NC Capitol team put together a whole list of claims surrounding these sweeps and the aftermath that were either false or in dispute.
Imagine returning a rental car in perfect condition, only to be told days later that you damaged it and now owe thousands of dollars in repairs. That happened to Mike Robinson, who shared his story with WRAL's Keely Arthur.
The euthanasia rate for animal shelters statewide is starting to tick up slightly, after bottoming out during the pandemic, according to numbers provided by the state.
WRAL Investigates analyzed data from 2024 for every county's shelter to find which shelters have the highest euthanasia rates, which have the lowest, and what may be behind that variation.
WRAL Investigates senior producer Randall Kerr discu...
Local officials confirmed federal immigration agents were conducting operations in the Triangle Tuesday. Videos of interactions with those agents in Raleigh and Durham flooded social media along political statements on the operation. WRAL's Louis Fernandez and Grace Holland break down what we know so far.
An internal shuffle is raising new questions about partisanship at the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Less than a week before voters went to the polls this month, a top staffer took voluntary leave after what appeared to be an internal dispute over a statement refuting a Democratic Party leader. That came a day after the board’s top lawyer had departed.
The depart...
Rising health care costs and increased enrollment have left the state’s Medicaid program with a gaping funding gap. But lawmakers can’t agree on a bill that would fill it, and they plan to ignore orders by Gov. Josh Stein to hold a special session this week to strike a deal. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the battle over the funding, and explains what happens if t...
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