WRAL Daily Download

There’s an ancient legend hidden among the historic buildings in the grassy knoll called McCorkle Place on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus. It’s a witness to history—the Davie Poplar tree, as it's known, has been there longer than the university. WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah shared the legends and the romance behind this magnificent antique giant.

A UNC Health Physician and a pilot survived when a small plane when it crashed near the RDU runway Wednesday. As the investigation into what caused the crash began, so did headaches for travelers. WRAL Durham Reporter Monica Casey walks through what she saw while reporting near the tarmac.

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a miracle comeback in Game 2 of their first-round series against the New York Islanders. Why the win could boost the Hurricanes to another deep run in the playoffs. Carolina is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

History could repeat itself this political season, polling shows. North Carolina could once again vote for a Republican president while simultaneously putting a Democrat in the governor’s mansion. Ali Ingersoll talks with WRAL State Capitol reporter Brian Murphy about the poll. 

State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week to start the 2024 legislative session. They’re expected to make updates to the state budget, and they’ll have a $1 billion budget surplus to divvy up. But other hot-button issues could be on the agenda, too. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the priorities for the Republican-led legislature in the months ahead. 

Cell phones, e-bikes, tools – what they all have in common is that they run off of lithium ion batteries. 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong talks with Ali Ingersoll about how they might pose a risk. 

There are less than 100 days until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Ali Ingersoll talks with both Liz McLaughlin and Louis Fernandez about the preparations. 

Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin announced Tuesday she will not run for a third term due to health concerns. She has served the city for 15 years, first as a city councilor. WRAL Reporter Matt Talhelm walks us through her two terms as mayor.

A 22-year-old man faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted of kidnapping and raping a 12-year-old girl. Her family says she met the man on a gaming app. The defendant's attorney says she was posing as a college student. WRAL's Chelsea Donovan explains what other parents can learn from the case to protect their children.

Two Republicans are still competing for the GOP nomination to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District. Leading up to a May 14 runoff, Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott are accusing each other of holding secret liberal beliefs. WRAL State Government Reporter explains why they’re focused on each other’s ties to Democrats, and why immigration has been such a big talking point — even though it doesn’t rank among the top issues for all North Carolina voters.

Japan's Prime Minister is in North Carolina Friday--a rare visit to a U.S. state by a foreign leader. It's a visit based on business. There are more than 200 Japanese companies operating here. It also comes in the same week that another investment by a Japanese company was announced. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what this vist could mean for North Carolina's economic future.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting the first-ever drinking water standards for PFAS, an announcement officials made this week in Fayetteville. These forever chemicals have been found in drinking water across North Carolina and are linked to health risks. WRAL Climate Reporter Liz Mclaughlin explains how these changes will impact our state.

Most of us have experienced this: driving downt he road at night when suddenly you're blinded by a car coming the opposite direction. Adaptive Driving Beam headlights were designed to prevent that from happening but, as 5 On Your Side's producer Pritchard Strong tells Ali Ingersoll, they're not active in the U.S.

Durham has paid more than $2 million to a family of a 24-year-old mother who died in a crash following a police chase. WRAL Investigative Journalist Sarah Krueger talks to Ali Ingersoll about the lawsuit and settlement. 

Parents of children with dyslexia often spend thousands of dollars on private education — even when their children attend public schools. North Carolina is now changing how it teaches reading to children. The shift is expected to better serve students with dyslexia. But many parents say more needs to be done. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explains.

After a last minute change in headliners, Dreamville gets started Saturday. The hip hop festival created by Fayetteville Native and rapper J. Cole brings hundreds of thousands of people, and hundreds of millions of dollars, to Raleigh. WRAL News Reporter Destinee Patterson explains changes to this year's event.

North Carolina State Men's and Women's Basketball are both Final Four bound and it's paying off for bettors. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy breaks down what this tournament run has meant for payoffs.

WRAL Investigates found nearly 200 code violations in just one year filed against the complex yet the city hasn't fined the management company. Investigative journalist Sarah Krueger joins Ali Ingersoll to talk about her reporting. 

During March Madness, anything can happen. Both NC State's women's and men's basketball teams are in the Final Four. Ali Ingersoll talks to Louis Fernandez and Eric Miller about the historic run. 

As the Israel-Hamas conflict drags on, President Joe Biden is trying to strike a delicate balance between standing firmly behind Israel while also placating supporters who think the U.S. should do more to help Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire — and all without upsetting voters aligned with Israel. How Biden approaches the issue could be one deciding factor in whether he or former President Donald Trump wins North Carolina — a state seen by both parties as critical to controlling the White House. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explain.

You might remember the story about Bob the Cat. He was found in Fuquay Varina a few months ago but his micro chip linked him to a woman in Kansas. After an injunction from the court, he was set to head back to Witchita but that never happened. Ali Ingersoll talks with 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong about where the cat is now and the legal battle that continues.

Conrad Shadel lives in Person County but answers 911 calls in the Pacific Northwest. He and his co-workers are allowed to do their jobs remotely, even from home.
Here in our state, many agencies are struggling to fill emergency communicator positions. WRAL Investigates Sarah Krueger visited his dispatch center and examines whether this could be a solution.

Early Tuesday morning a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge near the Port of Baltimore causing the bridge to collapse. Six people are still missing and believed to have died. WRAL’s Eastern North Carolina reporter Heidi Kirk went to the Port of Wilmington to see if they’re being impacted by ships being diverted while journalist Brett Knese spoke with an expert on structural engineering. Both join Ali Ingersoll to share their insights.

For the first time since Poe Hall closed in November after discovering PCBs were present, we are hearing from the university's leader. 5 on your side reporter Keely Arthur sat down with him for an exclusive interview. Hear part of it. 

An emerging threat to voters: fake images and video messages created with artificial intelligence. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what North Carolina and federal officials are doing to keep AI-generated misinformation from tricking voters — and why state lawmakers don’t expect to address it with new laws.