WRAL Daily Download

University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on administrative leave on Monday morning. Now an investigation is underway due to "concerns behind allegations" that led to Lombardi being put on leave. We've heard this week from university leaders, including chancellor Lee Roberts and athletics director Steve Newmark. In this week's edition of On the Record, WRAL sports investigative reporter Brian Murphy sits down with Louis Fernandez to discuss what we've learned, how this impacts the university, the football team and Bill Belichick, and how this could all end.

From famine to feast: July saw record-setting rain, but did it do enough for our state-wide drought? WRAL Meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner and News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes talk about the recent drought monitor findings. 

50 years ago, one Triangle company changed how the world uses data. WRAL presents a special look at SAS's impact on the Triangle and beyond. Cristin Severance spoke exclusively with co-founder Dr. Jim Goodnight.

Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell from Cary was reported missing last week while vacationing in Grenada. Police said she was not seen returning from the water after going for a swim near her rental. WRAL's Shaun Gallegher breaks down the timeline investigators are piecing together from surveillance video.

UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi has been placed on paid leave, the University announced on Monday morning. What does this mean for the program going into head coach Bill Belichick's second year? WRAL Sports Investigative reporter Brian Murphy talks through the situation.

Half of North Carolina’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives owns stocks, and some are potentially making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on those trades, a review of public records shows. This review comes as the US House of Representatives passes a bill that would ban the future purchasing of stocks, but there’s a lot more to this potential new law than a headline would tell you. WRAL State government reporter Will Doran talks through where NC representatives stand and where this issue goes from here.

WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth explains the weather conditions -- high wind, heat, ice, snow, severe storms -- that prompt us to warn that weather could be dangerous and call it a WRAL Weather Alert Day. The start of July 2026 brought an unprecedented seven days in a row, for various reasons. And the conditions proved the alert was necessary. Here's why.

Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason tells the story of a Durham man honoring his grandma with every pitcher of sweet tea he sells. He also introduces us to a Pinetops family with a special motivation to selling their produce.

The City of Rocky Mount has resumed shutting off utilities and charging late fees after months of exceptions due to a utility billing issue that lead to back bills. A recent state audit found the city did not double-bill customers. Instead, auditors said the city was trying to correct billing delays and eliminate a gap between meter-reading dates and billing dates created by the city by mistake. WRAL's Heidi Kirk explains.

It could soon be easier for North Carolina elections officials to throw out people’s ballots during the 2026 midterm elections and beyond, under new rules approved Thursday by the State Board of Elections. The new changes, backed by the Republican majority on the State Board of Elections and opposed by the board's Democratic minority, make it easier for elections officials to reject people’s excuses for not having required voter identification. They'd also make it easier to kick people out of polling places, in addition to other changes. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez talk through this topic.

North Carolina law enforcement agencies are now authorized to place cameras alongside state-maintained roads to track who is driving and where, due to a provision tucked into the new state budget that essentially enables a permanent, statewide surveillance program. Automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, record the license plates of every vehicle driving by as well as the make, model and color of their vehicles. Then, using artificial intelligence, they cross-reference that information with various law enforcement databases. Hits might come back for stolen cars, criminal suspects, missing people or other reasons. WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and Louis Fernandez talk through what we know.

Some law enforcement officers resign whiel facing criminal charges, then go on to work for another department. WRAL's Megan Cloherty explains where the hiring process can break down, why some smaller towns end up hiring officers with troubling histories and what's being done to close the gaps.

Starting July 1, loan service providers started the process of reaching out to borrowers to start their 90-day deadline to switch from the SAVE repayment plan. But not everyone's deadline to switch will be the same. Enterprise Reporter Destinee Patterson speaks with Ashley Rowe about what borrowers need to know. 

Christina Serafino thought she had food poisoning when she woke up feeling sick on Father’s Day. Three weeks later, the Wake County woman learned she was battling Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can cause weeks of severe gastrointestinal illness. WRAL's Grace Hayba talked to her about that experience.

If it feels like this summer has been especially brutal, you're not imagining it. While the lack of rainfall is an obvious part of North Carolina's ongoing drought, there's another side effect that many people don't realize. Drought conditions can make hot weather even hotter. WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell and Grace Holland explain.

Major healthcare changes are coming for hundreds of thousands of state employees, retirees and family members. Starting next year, State Health Plan premiums will go up, and a new provider system could change what members pay for care. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains the changes with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham died early Sunday morning. A medical examiner's office said a ruptured aorta is the cause of death. Before coming to WRAL, NC Capitol Reporter Caroline Yaffa covered Senator Graham extensively. She spoke with WRAL Executive Producer Scott Nagel about her experience covering the long-time Senator and his impact on South Carolinians.     

Recent storms have brought some relief to parts of North Carolina, but the state’s drought continues to worsen. Central North Carolina, the Triad and the coast still need 16 to 20 inches of rain over an extended period to see meaningful improvement. WRAL meteorologist Grant Skinner and WRAL anchor Ken Smith talk through the drought conditions and why we may not see relief until the fall.

Could your zip code be a high-target area for scams? Our 5 On Your Side team compiled data around the Triangle to see which areas are getting scammed the most and what the top scams are.

FEMA committed more than $11 million to North Carolina for Tropical Storm Chantal relief efforts but less than half of those funds have been distributed so far. Orange County, which had the most damage from the storm--is still waiting for its share of federal help. WRAL Investigates Destinee Patterson explains what federal data reveals about the wait for funding.

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

After a year without a budget, North Carolina lawmakers pitch and pass a 600-page, $34 billion spending plan in just three days. WRAL's NC Capitol team explains the winners, losers, the weird bipartisan way the vote broke down and what is still to come before state employees see long-awaited raises.

Folarin Balogun picked up a controversial red card for the US men's national team in the 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. WRAL's Dan Haggerty and Louis Fernandez talk through the penalty and explain why it wasn't a great call. Plus, how it will impact the US in the Round of 16 against Belgium on Monday.

North Carolina is about to experience a heat wave, causing triple-digit highs going into the Fourth of July weekend. So why should we be thinking about flooding now? WRAL Meteorologist Chris Michaels explains. 

North Carolina lawmakers have unveiled the largest budget proposal in state history. It includes tax cuts and raises for state employees. WRAL's Capitol Team breaks down everything you need to know.

Fewer people are reaching for a glass of wine or a cocktail. A recent Gallup survey shows 54% of adults consume alcohol. That’s down 10% from 10 years ago. Yet, the roads aren’t necessarily getting safer. In fact, keeping them safe is getting more complicated. Law enforcement agencies in North Carolina are trying to catch up to the changing landscape of impaired driving.  WRAL Investigates Destinee Patterson spoke with the head at the Forensic Test for Alcohol branch with the Division of Public Health, Kenny Benfield.  

A wide-ranging bill in the North Carolina legislature would change a host of election laws. The 37-page document proposes new rules for so-called “never-resident” voters allows for more secrecy around campaign donations and more clearly spells out what to do about voters who cast ballots early but die before election day. WRAL's Paul Specht discusses the major points of the bill. 

A question on everyone's minds after the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup win this year: is Rod Brind'Amour one of the best coaches in North Carolina sports history? WRAL sports anchor Chris Lea and Louis Fernandez go over their lists and look at what an all-around North Carolina sports Mount Rushmore looks like.

Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason tells the story of a former professional soccer from North Carolina who went from performing on the pitch in Italy to running a successful Italian restaurant in Raleigh. Mason also shares insight into an upcoming story on the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Band and Chorus and their upcoming Independence Day tributes. 

A Fuquay-Varina man is stressed about the amount of money he lost in an elaborate scam. He reached out to WRAL Investigates after seeing his name in a federal court document related to an online investment scam. Wesley Marley learned after reporting his losses to the FBI that he was the victim of an international scam known for its odd name: pig-butchering. The name alludes to the number of cuts scammers make on their victims’ lives after taking months to gain their trust. WRAL's Megan Cloherty and Lora Lavigne talk through this story and what you can learn.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour missed out on the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2026. He's been eligible for over a decade now. How close is he to making the list? How does his coaching resume impact the decision? WRAL sports investigative reporter Brian Murphy and Louis Fernandez talk through the process and where things go from here.

Major League Baseball wants to select two new cities for expansion before early 2029. North Carolina officials want one of them to be Raleigh. It’s becoming an issue in state budget discussions. People familiar with the talks tell our N-C Capitol team that lawmakers are weighing whether to reserve hundreds of millions of dollars for a stadium that would support a big-league bid. WRAL's Brian Murphy goes in-depth with WRAL's Elizabeth Holmes. 

Avantae Deven was arrested on June 24, 2024, connected with the deaths of her two adopted children. Their names were Blake and London. Their deaths, and what it said about North Carolina’s foster system, was at the center of the WRAL Documentary, “Broken.” WRAL’s Chris Lovingood has a new look inside conversations between Deven and the biological mother of her adopted children. Those conversations took place over email, just days before Deven was arrested.   

The Carolina Hurricanes won a Stanley Cup for the second time as a franchise. How does this impact the team, Lenovo Center and Raleigh as a whole?  WRAL's Dan Haggerty takes a deep dive on what's already happeneing and what could come next.

An anti-abortion bill filed in the North Carolina House is getting lots of attention on social media. It seeks to allow people to protect a life...by using deadly force. Politi-Fact reporter Paul Specht looked into the bill to check claims being made by opponents.  **NOTE: At time of recording, we have not received comment from Jen Hamilton. 

Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason shares more about his stories on a noisey, nasty job that's necessary for North Carolina agriculture, as well as a Cary biochemist's science experiment with a magical African tree, with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes. 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off Thursday, marking a significant sporting event across North America. WRAL's Louis Fernandez explains the storylines for diehard and casual soccer fans.

As newsrooms shrink, media companies consolidate, and communities lose access to trusted local information, a new WRAL documentary explores what is at stake for North Carolina. "Left Uncovered: Inside North Carolina's News Deserts" premieres Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. on WRAL-TV and streams live on WRAL.com, the WRAL News+ app, and WRAL's YouTube channel. WRAL documentary investigator Cristin Severance and Louis Fernandez talk through the impacts to our local communities and how the news industry moves forward.

In North Carolina, reports of online exploitation of children increased by 1,115% since 2019, according to data from the State Bureau of Investigation. WRAL Investigates reached out to some of the largest law enforcement agencies in the WRAL viewing area. Agencies are trying to keep up with the caseload. However, many reported minimal staff or funding increases.

A North Carolina family's vacation was almost derailed when their child's birth certificate went missing while it was being processed by the federal government. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about what happened when she stepped in. 

WRAL Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason speaks with WRAL Anchor Gerald Owens about honoring D-Day and the story of a war hero from Dunn. 

WRAL Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason speaks with WRAL Anchor Gerald Owens about honoring D-Day and the story of a war hero from Dunn. 

WRAL Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason speaks with WRAL Anchor Gerald Owens about honoring D-Day and the story of a war hero from Dunn. 

A Greensboro woman says she lost $1,000 while trying to buy Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final tickets through a Facebook group that appeared legitimate. After sending money to the group's administrator for two tickets, the tickets never arrived. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur and Louis Fernandez talk through what happened and what you need to know to protect yourself from similar problems.

June 1 marked the beginning of the hurricane season this year. While the WRAL Severe Weather team's tropical outlook predicts less storms than an average season, if there's one thing we've learned, a hurricane doesn't need to be a category 5 to have a massive effect. WRAL's Aimee Wilmoth and Mark Bergin talk through the history of storms in North Carolina, and how a single storm can leave a lasting impact.

On this week's episode of On the Record, two of the biggest economic development projects in North Carolina state history are dealing with changes. WRAL's Jack Hagel and Elizabeth Holmes talk through what's happening and what's at stake with VinFast and JetZero. Plus, hear from North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley as North Carolina takes auto manufacturer VinFast to court.

After years of rough roads, lane closures, and hundreds, if not thousands, of orange barrels strewn about I-440, the expansion of Raleigh's Beltline is nearing an end. It comes after a three-year delay. WRAL Digital Producer Mark Bergin and WRAL Investigative Producer Randall Kerr talk about the project's status and what's ahead. 

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. 

June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Making preparations ahead of time is always a good idea. WRAL's Mark Bergin and meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth talked through good items to include in your hurricane prep kits.

There are several consitutional amendements North Carolinians will vote on this November. Two of the most notable amendements involve a cap on the state's income tax and a proposal impacting property taxes. WRAL State Government reporter Will Doran breaks down what they include and the politics behind them. 

WRAL's Gerald Owens and Scott Mason talk through a few upcoming Tar Heel Traveler stories including the history behind the "world's oldest longleaf pine" and a couple starting a new journey with bicycle spokes.