WRAL Daily Download

North Carolina’s worsening teacher shortage is hampering schools that need special education services. Students with disabilities are increasingly being taught by people who aren’t qualified to provide them with special services. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explains what schools are doing to comply with state and federal law.

This week, the NC Supreme Court ruled the battle over which candidate should sit on its bench has to go to trial in Wake County Superior Court. Democrat incumbent Allison Riggs leads Republican Jefferson Griffin by about 700 votes and Griffin wants to throw out 60,000 ballots because of errors made by elections officials. WRAL's Will Doran explains the controversy.

On Wednesday, we learned the names of the suspect and victim of a shootout in a Raleigh neighborhood that also injured a Raleigh Police officer. As police continue to investigate, WRAL reporters have been piecing together the series of events. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher explains what we know so far.

North Carolina is joining the list of states suing the Trump administration over an executive order targeting birthright citizenship. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued over President Trump's executive order that would stop children of undocumented immigrants-- and even some legal immigrants--from receiving citizenship just because they are born in the U.S. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what this executive order would change and the lawsuit to stop it.

North Carolina is one of a handful of states where people who sell or by illegal drugs are supposed to pay taxes on them. Some argue the bills for those taxes are double jeopardy for people already paying a price in the criminal justice system. WRAL Investigates' Randall Kerr explains how the tax works.

President-Elect Donald Trump's second term begins this week. On the campaign trail, he promised sweeping changes to immigration and economic policy that could affect us here in North Carolina. WRAL's Brian Murphy explains those plans.

Tractor-trailers are the biggest (and potentially) most dangerous vehicles on the roads. A highly specialized unit in our state is making sure THEY are safe -- so that your family is, too. WRAL Investigates Producer Randall Kerr introduces us to the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. WRAL has covered local perspectives on the conflict since it began 15 months ago. We share some reaction as the deal will allow hundreds of Palestinians and 33 hostages held by Hamas to go free.

Fifty-nine-year-old Eva Torrellas is facing felony charges and police say she is the woman seen on surveillance video moments before a popular downtown Raleigh bar went up in flames. WRAL's Aaron Thomas explains what we know about the fire and the community response.

Police say dirt bikes and ATVs are illegally driving on public roads in big groups that sometimes ignore traffic laws. Several Triangle law enforcement agencies are identifying and charging the riders as part of a task force. WRAL Investigates Producer Randall Kerr breaks down how social media is helping officers find suspects.

The race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court is still up in the air — months after the November election, and despite the fact the incumbent received more votes. It’s tied up because of a challenge over voter eligibility — a case playing out in court. WRAL State Government reporter Will Doran breaks down the case. 

A Hyde County poultry farm has found bird flu among its commercial egg producing flock. The virus' risk to humans is still low but the first human death in the U.S. has health officials on alert. WRAL's Grace Hayba explains the likelihood of a human outbreak and how prepared we would be to deal with one.

Wake County Public Schools is looking at putting its first-ever cell phone policy in place. Many options are on the table, including banning phones altogether. WRAL's Eric Miller talked to parents and students about the possible solutions.

Longtime WRAL reporter Gilbert Baez departed after 17 years leading our reporting from Fayetteville. He's covered the area for decades--through breaking news, severe weather and community driven stories. Gilbert reflects on his time at the station.

There are big changes in North Carolina leadership after the November elections--from the governor to the state legislature and beyond. WRAL State Government Reporter breaks down what he's watching in the new year.

At least 14 were killed and dozens injured when a truck drove through a New Year's Day crowd on Bourbon Street. As the investigation into the suspect continues, WRAL spoke to two men who found themselves in the French Quarter during the attack. We also found out how they're reflecting on what happened.

As we look back on 2024, the WRAL Daily Download is revisiting some of our episodes from the year. WRAL's Chris Lovingood began reporting on two children missing for years from Fayetteville as soon as we learned about the investigation in the spring. We bring you back to the day their adoptive mother was arrested for their murder and bring you an update on the case.

As we close out 2024, WRAL has updated its Promise Tracker for North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper one last time. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down Cooper's final grades.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for college football! This weekend, NC State will play in the Military Bowl and UNC-Chapel Hill in the Fenway Bowl. Next week, Duke is in the Gator Bowl. WRAL Sports Reporter Louis Fernandez breaks down who each team is up against and which are favored to win.

As we look back on 2024, the WRAL Daily Download is revisiting some of our episodes from the year. Back in February, WRAL's Gerald Owens told us the story of Shiloh--a historically Black neighborhood in the Asheville area that you may know as the Biltmore Estate. We bring you that story and how the area is doing after Helene.

Tornadoes, flooding, and hurricanes are just some of the wild weather our state saw in 2024. WRAL Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth reflects on what we learned and what it could tell us about weather in the new year.

Election claims and the government’s response to a devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina spawned an endless stream of misleading rhetoric in 2024. And WRAL’s fact-checking team helped check claims and set the record straight. WRAL’s PolitiFact North Carolina reporter Paul Specht breaks down the top North Carolina fact-checks of the year.

Election claims and the government’s response to a devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina spawned an endless stream of misleading rhetoric in 2024. And WRAL’s fact-checking team helped check claims and set the record straight. WRAL’s PolitiFact North Carolina reporter Paul Specht breaks down the top North Carolina fact-checks of the year.

Over the past six months, WRAL 5 On Your Side has reviewed more than 1,000 pages of testing documents to understand the toxic chemicals people working and learning inside Poe Hall may have been exposed to. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur explains the results of that reporting.