Shows / WRAL Daily Download
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…
Episodes
- WRAL Daily Download
Could flying cars come to North Carolina?
North Carolina is known for being first in flight. Wilbur and Orville Wright claimed that title. Fast forward 122 years later. America's first flying car is…
- WRAL Daily Download
As government shutdown nears an end, thousands of North Carolinians could see healthcare costs rise
The House is set to vote on a Senate approved plan to reopen the government. It would restore important funding for federal food aid and federal workers' pay…
- WRAL Daily Download
How climate stressors can serve as early warning signs for North Carolina and beyond
Researchers at the City University of New York's Advanced Science Research Center have published new findings that could create a new way to detect climate…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why one of NC’s most powerful politicians is in a ‘slugfest’ for his seat
One of the most accomplished Republican legislators in North Carolina history faces a primary challenger with enough name-recognition to potentially capture…
- WRAL Daily Download
Flying during the shutdown as flights across the country are set to be canceled
This year's government shutdown is the longest in history. Over the past few weeks, we've started to see direct impacts across the country. The newest trouble…
- WRAL Daily Download
What does Wake County's blue wave mean ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate race?
Four different towns in Wake County will have new mayors next year. It comes after Democrats made big gains in the county’s suburbs on election night…
- WRAL Daily Download
North Carolina FC to pause team and focus on USL Division One in 2028
North Carolina FC is seeking membership in a new, higher USL division and will suspend operations after this season to pursue that. The move would require a…
- WRAL Daily Download
WRAL Investigates tracks what Wake County intersections have the most car crashes
When you’re driving in Wake County, are there any intersections that make you worry? Maybe you make sure to pay EXTRA attention, maybe you just avoid…
- WRAL Daily Download
How local North Carolinians are being impacted by SNAP uncertainty
As the government shutdown continues, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, has faced much uncertainty. The U.S. Department of Agriculture…
- WRAL Daily Download
How is Durham taking a different approach to gun violence?
When it comes to crime in Durham, both City and County leaders say things are heading in the right direction. Overall violent crime is down compared to last…
- WRAL Daily Download
The continous collapse of beachfront homes in the Outer Banks a "gut punch" to residents
On Wednesday, the National Park Service put out a warning to visitors coming to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore: avoid the beach and stay out of the water…
- WRAL Daily Download
Zebulon man arrested after his four children found dead in the trunk of a car
Johnston County deputies and State Bureau of Investigation agents searched for evidence at a home in Zebulon Tuesday after four children were found dead…
- WRAL Daily Download
What the ACC is doing to return to powerhouse status in men's basketball
The Atlantic Coast Conference got just four teams into the men's NCAA Tournament last season, one of the lowest totals it's had in decades. For the past few…
- WRAL Daily Download
NC lawmakers brace for lawsuits over congressional districts
North Carolina’s new congressional districts, approved Wednesday, are already facing legal challenges. The new voting map gives Republicans an edge in 11…
- WRAL Daily Download
5 On Your Side solves DMV mystery ticket for local woman
Imagine getting a letter saying your driver’s license is being suspended, for a ticket from a state you’ve never even visited. That’s what…
- WRAL Daily Download
Lawmakers approve new NC congressional map to boost GOP edge in U.S. House races
In a victory for Republicans in the state legislature and nationwide, a new congressional map that seeks to increase the GOP's advantage in 2026 gained final…
- WRAL Daily Download
Bill Belichick focuses on football as spotlight on UNC Tarheels remains bright
Several headlines came out of a Tuesday press conference with UNC Football Coach Bill Belichick. From a suspended coach reinstated to a paused Hulu docuseries…
- WRAL Daily Download
5 On Your Side solves phone bill battle for woman and her husband with dementia
A Wake Forest woman tried over and over again to get Verizon to cancel her husband's phone service. He was diagnosed with dementia more than a decade ago and…
- WRAL Daily Download
NC Republicans make moves for more seats in the U.S. House
State lawmakers are coming back to Raleigh this week to vote on newly proposed congressional districts — an effort to help the GOP maintain its majority…
- WRAL Daily Download
How Raleigh plans to grow in the right ways
The City of Raleigh is rewriting the plan that will guide growth over the next 20 years. The comprehensive plan will provide a roadmap for where to build…
- WRAL Daily Download
A recipe for serious traffic jams around the North Carolina State Fair
The first night of the North Carolina State Fair coincides with Billie Eilish's first of two concerts in Raleigh on Thursday. Officials are urging people to…
- WRAL Daily Download
Three years after Hedingham mass shooting, community remembers those killed
Monday marked three years since a mass shooting in the Hedingham neighborhood in east Raleigh. On Monday, an end-of-watch ceremony was held for slain officer…
- WRAL Daily Download
More than $6.5 billion in medical debt relieved through NC program
More than $6.5 billion in medical debt has been relieved for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians over the past year, through a program set up by the state…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why the feds say NC is failing special education students
U.S. Department of Education officials say North Carolina is failing to meet federal special education standards. State officials blame it on teacher turnover…
- WRAL Daily Download
Community mourns three Fayetteville high school football players killed in car crash
Three E.E. Smith High School students died and another person was seriously hurt after a crash Wednesday night in Fayetteville. WRAL's Kirtsyn Clark talked to…
- WRAL Daily Download
Social media and AI algorithms may be linked to higher self harm risks among kids in NC
Warning: This episode discusses topics of suicide and addiction. A state committee tasked with preventing child deaths in North Carolina is focused on social…
- WRAL Daily Download
How the U.S. trade war with China is bad for NC soybean farmers
One of North Carolina's biggest cash crops is the hardest hit by the impacts of new tariffs and trade tensions. China is one of the largest buyers of U.S…
- WRAL Daily Download
What to know ahead of Tuesday's local elections in NC
Tuesday is Election Day for many parts of North Carolina, including Durham, Fayetteville and Rocky Mount. Voters will get a chance to cast their ballot in city…
- WRAL Daily Download
The Raleigh police officer fired, accused of taking a sexual favor during a DWI investigation
Raleigh police officer Tremale Cogdell is set to appear in court Monday afternoon. He was arrested on felony sexual misconduct charges Friday. WRAL's Shaun…
- WRAL Daily Download
What is the TikTok challenge that could make your kid sick?
There's a social media challenge circulating on TikTok encouraging kids to take a large amount of over the counter medicine, like Benadryl, for fun. It's not…
- WRAL Daily Download
A battle over healthcare at the state and federal level
On October 1, the federal government officially shut down. A big reason behind the shutdown is disputes of healthcare subsidies. Healthcare spending is also…
- WRAL Daily Download
What witnesses say happened during a mass shooting at a Southport bar
The community of Southport is grieving three killed in a shooting along the waterfront while the suspected shooter is awaiting his next court date. WRAL's…
- WRAL Daily Download
Climate change is hitting home in North Carolina--literally
A new national study projects that more than two-thirds of North Carolina's counties could lose home value over the next few decades due to climate change…
- WRAL Daily Download
Lawmakers return to Raleigh: The bills that did and did not make it to the Governor's desk
Lawmakers returned to Raleigh last week, passing a flurry of bills aimed at individual projects and new policies. But, they left without a deal on a state…
- WRAL Daily Download
Hillsborough's Gold Park reopens after major repairs from Tropical Storm Chantal damage
Nearly three months after Tropical Storm Chantal caused millions of dollars in estimated damage to Hillsborough, one of the public spaces most impacted in the…
- WRAL Daily Download
Helene: What We Lost, What We Found
The newest WRAL Documentary airs Thursday, September 25 on WRAL-TV and online platforms and looks back at the damage caused in western North Carolina by…
- WRAL Daily Download
Duke's Kara Lawson humbled to join the ranks of legendary Team USA Basketball coaches
On Monday, Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson was named the next head coach of the U.S. Women's basketball team for the next four years. Lawson…
- WRAL Daily Download
Teens found after escaping Raleigh mental health facility
Holly Hill Hospital's CEO says seven teens who escaped Sunday night in Raleigh attacked a staff member to get out. The incident raised questions about past…
- WRAL Daily Download
New crime bill, health care spending, Helene aid: NC lawmakers return to Raleigh
State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week for another check-in after failing to pass a budget on time earlier this summer. Lawmakers are expected to…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why the UNC System is considering raising tuition costs for incoming students
The UNC System Board of Governors discussed a tuition increase up to 3% at its universities. It would be the first increase in the cost of tuition in the…
- WRAL Daily Download
State workers could face another health premium hike, depending on Duke-Aetna contract fight
Duke Health and health insurance company Aetna are in the middle of contract negotiations. There's just about a month left to salvage a deal. Depending on the…
- WRAL Daily Download
How hurricanes can harm your pet's health
It is hurricane season in North Carolina. While you may be thinking about how to protect your family from floodwaters or your home from storm damage…
- WRAL Daily Download
Calls to fire Durham Police Chief, Wake County teacher over comments about Charlie Kirk's death
Charlie Kirk's death has led many people aroudn the country to voice their thoughts on the shooting and the state of our politics on social media. It has been…
- WRAL Daily Download
New data centers in NC could strain the power grid and your wallet
A new data center in Tarboro promised to bring in 500 jobs, $6.4 billion in investment and millions in new tax revenue for the rural North Carolina community…
- WRAL Daily Download
Hemp vs. Marijuana: How a small difference between the two can have a big impact on law enforcement, civil rights in NC
A North Carolina attorney boldly dared to be searched and even arrested in front of the state’s Supreme Court Justices while holding a baggie in hand. In…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why a stabbing in Charlotte sparked a political firestorm nationwide
Last month, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman who came to the U.S. to flee the war with Russia was fatally stabbed on a light rail train in Charlotte. Though it…
- WRAL Daily Download
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year? We'll find out more this month
As the cooler months approach, respiratory illnesses are front of mind, which includes COVID-19. Unlike years past, as of now, not everyone can walk up to a…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why people in Tarboro are pushing back against a proposed data center
On Monday, Tarboro Town Council held a public hearing about a proposed data center. Hundreds of people have signed a Change.org petition against it. WRAL's…
- WRAL Daily Download
Durham woman partners with Duke to start grief program for brain cancer patients, families, doctors
Duke University's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center will soon offer new mental and emotional support for its patients, their families and their…
- WRAL Daily Download
EMS employees worked more than 30,000 hours of overtime amid staffing crunch
Durham County EMS workers made nearly $2 million in overtime and worked more than 30,000 hours of overtime in just one year, according to reports obtained by…
- WRAL Daily Download
Making the grade: NC test scores show proficiency rates are still behind pre-pandemic levels
New data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction shows student test scores are still not up to pre-pandemic levels, across nearly all subjects…
- WRAL Daily Download
Why the South Wake Landfill is causing a stink for neighbors
The South Wake Landfill has been causing an odor problem for neighbors in Apex and Holly Springs since it opened in 2008. In the past three months, complaints…
- WRAL Daily Download
Saint Augustine's University interim president resigns ahead of first day of classes
Fall semester starts at Saint Augustine's University on Tuesday but students will begin classes without a clear leader in place. SAU's interim president…
- WRAL Daily Download
How a former NASCAR executive plans to guide UNC into a new era of college sports
The University of North Carolina has turned to former NASCAR team executive Steve Newmark to help guide the Tar Heels into a new era of college athletics…
- WRAL Daily Download
EPA data shows more "forever chemicals" are showing up in NC drinking water
New EPA data shows PFAS, short for per-and polyfluroalkyl, is showing up in 200 more drinking systems nationwide, including in Durham and Fayetteville. Those…
- WRAL Daily Download
"One Big Beautiful Bill" will likely bring changes to free or reduced-price school meals in NC
Changes to federal benefit programs will likely mean a loss in free school meals for some students, advocates warn. The "One Big Beautiful Bill," signed into…
- WRAL Daily Download
Genentech becomes the latest biotech company to invest in Holly Springs
Biotechnology company Genentech broke ground on its first east coast facility on Monday. It plans to hire 420 people in Holly Springs as it works on developing…
- WRAL Daily Download
NC officials scramble to keep defendant tracking system running
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network is scrambling to find permanent funding for a program that tracks defendants in domestic violence cases…
- WRAL Daily Download
Belichick at UNC, Duke's transfer QB among Triangle's top college football storylines
WRAL's Mark Bergin and Pat Welter discuss the top storylines for UNC, Duke and NC State before the start of the 2025 college football season. The top…
- WRAL Daily Download
5 On Your Side: How do educators in NC plan to use AI in the classroom?
Artificial Intelligence – what most people now refer to as “A-I” – is a powerful tool that could help students learn. But it’s…