WRAL Daily Download

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a law suspending the state's gas tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. It's aimed at lowering prices that have remained elevated since President Donald Trump launched an attack on Iran earlier this year. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains the measure.

The tragic loss of Zoe Welsh shook the Ravenscroft community, but the warning signs were there for decades. WRAL Documentary Investigator Cristin Severance joins the In Depth podcast to discuss her new documentary about the case, "Decades of Warning". We dissect the years of incidents and charges involving Ryan Camacho and the many warning signs that led up to Zoe Welsh's death. 

New claims of burial mistakes at a Raleigh cemetery. Several weeks ago, we first told you about a cemetery mix-up at Montlawn Cemetery. 

A family discovered a stranger in a plot they paid for. After that reporting, more viewers told WRAL the same thing happened to them. People who don’t know each other with overlapping facts.

WRAL Investigates these latest claims. Alex Littlehales sat down with the other families who reached out and the frustrations they shared as we search for answers. He spoke through the reporting and what's next with WRAL's Louis Fernandez.

Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a breakneck pace, but industry leaders and governments are clashing over how we can keep it under control. WRAL'S Dan Haggerty and Ashley Rowe break down the chaotic landscape of AI regulation.

This Atlantic hurricane season has been pretty inactive so far. Does the quiet now lead to more noise down the road – in the winter? WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels and Louis Fernandez talk through the numbers to see if there's any causation between the two. Plus, how El Nino could impact what we see this winter.

Social Security is a pillar of retirement for older people across the country. Because of a variety of factors, this government program will reach insolvency by 2032. New senators this cycle, including the one elected in North Carolina, will play a pivotal role in crafting solutions in the next six years.

For this week's On the Record, WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez go over what insolvency means for current and future retirees and how it impacts the senate race ahead of Novembers midterm elections.

A Fayetteville father is upset his complaints to Social Services did not help remove his children from dangerous living conditions, even providing documented evidence of his son and daughter being severely injured while living in the home. WRAL's Chris Lovingood investigated the case and explains his reporting process.

Do you know what's in your fuel? A lawsuit alleges two companies conspired to mix contaminated fuel with clean fuel loads and sell it to drivers at 130 gas stations across the state. WRAL's Keely Arthur talks about the lawsuit and how the companies are responding.

The murder trial in the death of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth began in Durham Monday. The case has gripped the Triangle for more than a decade. WRAL's Monica Casey and Grace Holland answer some of the biggest questions heading to trial.

Sunday, September 27, marks two years since Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, becoming both the deadliest and most economically destructive storm in state history.

It's also becoming a hot topic on the campaign trail for our US Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley.

WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and WRAL News+ anchor Grace Holland talk through the past two years and how Hurricane Helene and its recovery efforts are playing a role in this November's midterm elections.

Robert Murphy Jr. is now facing dozens of charges tied to possible sexual abuse while working with athletes at NC State. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about the new charges, after a judge dismissed a civil lawsuit against Murphy back in 2022. 

President Donald Trump visited Gastonia, NC to back Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Michael Whatley. He discussed violent crime, diesel prices, and more. WRAL's Dan Haggerty was in the room and together with PolitiFact's Paul Specht, we check the facts to determine what's true, false and somewhere in between.

Car payments are getting harder for families to afford as the cost of groceries, housing, insurance, and other bills continue to rise. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with Ashley Rowe about what families can do get back on track to void delinquency or repossession. 

President Donald Trump spoke in Gastonia to give a boost to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. His comments got a strong response from Governor Josh Stein. WRAL's Will Doran and Grace Holland talk through what it reveals about the President's midterm mindset.

WRAL sports investigate reporter Brian Murphy talks about what he learned from investigators who looked into allegations of drug use, sexual relationships and compliance issues within the UNC football program. Murphy met with lead investigators for over an hour on Thursday, the same day Steve Belichick's resignation was announced.

For today's WRAL Daily Download, we're going back in the vault to a previous episode.

A new Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of certain additives and contaminants in some widely-sold foods and drinks. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Alex Littlehales explains what the findings show.

As WakeMed plans a massive partnership with Atrium Health, major questions remain about the cost of care, charity care and the potential for a $2 billion investment in the Triangle. WakeMed CEO Donald Gintzig sits down with WRAL's Dan Haggerty to discuss the questions coming from patients.

The fall foliage forecast is out for 2026! WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell spoke with a local expert to go over what our leaves will do this year. The heat, along with inconsistent rain over the summer, has put our area in a less-than-favorable position for fall foliage.

What does that mean for the timeline for leaves to change colors? Are there still places in North Carolina where we can see those bright colors pop? Campbell and WRAL's Louis Fernandez spoke through what we can expect.

Less than two months from midterm elections and the campaign trail is heating up for U.S. senate Democratic nominee Roy Cooper and U.S. senate Republican nominee Michael Whatley.

 Cooper told supporters at a campaign stop in rural Wayne County Thursday that he stands by his record on public safety, defending his actions as North Carolina governor a day after nationally televised attacks from President Donald Trump.

Whatley took to the national stage during the Republican national midterm convention in Dallas. Recent polls show Cooper with a lead over Whatley as the election approaches.

WRAL's Will Doran and Louis Fernandez talked through where the race stands and what you need to know with November right around the corner.

The North Carolina Education Lottery has for years not met its goal of giving out at least 38% of proceeds to public education, which mostly includes K-12 schools, according to a state audit. A state statute indicates that at least 50% should go toward paying out winnings, the auditor said.

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a new report, North Carolina lawmakers and policymakers should make a decision about the future of the North Carolina Education Lottery.

WRAL’s Randall Kerr and Carolina Yaffa talk through the audit and how the North Carolina Education Lottery system works.

What led up to UNC Football's General Manager Michael Lombardi's resignation? WRAL's Pat Welter and Chris Lea walk us through the month leading up to his resignation. 

Consumer Reports evaluated dozens of doorbell camera models, looking at video quality, response time and data security. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with WRAL Digital Producer Jaylin Jones about what happens to video that gets recorded, where it's stored, and how easily police can depend on the product. 

On Monday morning, we heard from UNC football head coach Bill Belichick for the first time since the resignation of general manager Michael Lombardi. 

Lombardi’s resignation came in moments before WRAL reported new details about the scope of the investigation, a probe that was launched shortly after he was placed on administrative leave in July. 

People familiar with the investigation told WRAL that outside lawyers hired to conduct the inquiry are asking people close to the program about whether son and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick used drugs at university facilities and whether he gave drugs to at least one player. Investigators are also asking about whether at least one member of UNC’s recruiting staff has a sexual relationship with at least one player, the people said, adding that investigators are also asking about similar possible relationships between recruiting staff and assistant coaches.  

Listen into our coverage of the day's events and where UNC goes from here.

Voting is underway in North Carolina, as the 2026 midterm elections started here Friday. North Carolina is the first state in the country to begin voting, although most voters are still unlikely to cast their ballots for another month or more.

The online portal that overseas and military voters can use opened at midnight. And as the day went on, officials in all 100 counties also began mailing out ballots to people stateside who have already requested to vote by mail.

As that was all happening, the State Board of Elections also met Friday morning to approve some last-minute changes to the rules for mail-in voting. For the most part, the new changes will require a stricter interpretation of state law, making it more likely that people’s ballots will be thrown out over technicalities that state officials previously let slide.

WRAL's Louis Fernandez and Will Doran sat down and spoke through where voting by mail stands for this year's midterm elections both locally and nationally on this week's On the Record.