WPTF Afternoon News

The government shutdown is having an impact on social program across the state. At the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, the shutdown is taking place at a time when they are struggling to meet demand. Food Bank officials say the federal cuts have already led to the loss of millions of dollars in funding that they would use for items like food and producer. Food Bank CEO Amy Beros joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the shutdown is impacting its services.

Philip Morris International’s U.S. businesses has announced an investment of $37 million in their manufacturing facility in Wilson. The investment will support expanded operations in Wilson, generating economic activity in the community, reinforcing PMI U.S.’s long-term commitment to American manufacturing, and advancing PMI’s mission of ending cigarette smoking by providing legal-age adults who smoke with better, smoke-free alternatives

A barbecue doughnut, pickle juice popsicles and cotton candy iced tea are among the 86 new foods coming to the North Carolina State Fair for 2025. The N.C. State Fair is October 16-26 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Kent Yelverton, the Manager of the North Carolina State Fair, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what’s on this year’s menu.

A lot of government continues during a federal shutdown. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, will continue at least for the month of October. The National Park Service plans to furlough about two-thirds of its employees while keeping parks largely open to visitors during the shutdown that began early Wednesday. A park service contingency plan released Tuesday night says “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible.” Gerald Cohen, Chief Economist at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business Institute, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the financial impact of the government shutdown.

A vote to end the government shutdown has failed. Democrats in the Senate held firm Wednesday to the party’s demands to fund health care subsidies that President Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to provide. But the tally showed cracks in the Democrats’ resolve, leaving next steps uncertain. On day one of the shutdown, blame was being cast on all sides. Michael Bitzer, Catawba College Political Science Professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the political implications of the shutdown.

Five unoccupied houses along the Outer Banks collapsed into the ocean on Tuesday as Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda rumbled in the Atlantic, the National Park Service said, marking the latest private beachfront structures to fall into the surf there in recent years. The homes that collapsed Tuesday were in the island community of Buxton. Residents in the neighborhood were left stunned and helpless. Sam Walker of Outer Banks News joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the scene along the Outer Banks amidst the storms.

North Carolina Medicaid has instituted a 5% cut in reimbursement rate for providers, citing funding shortages. That has caused concern that providers will eventually decide that can’t deal with Medicaid anymore. Lisa Poteat is the CEO of the Art of NC, an advocacy organization that provides services with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Poteat joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how much of an impact the reimbursement cut will have.

It’s a busy and exciting time for high school students as testing season kicks off in October. Jon Champion speaks with Priscilla Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of College Readiness Assessments at The College Board — the organization behind the SAT and PSAT. They’ll discuss the critical role these exams play in shaping a student’s academic journey and future opportunities.

Raleigh Wide Open is set for this weekend. This new festival will feature free stages for music, food, families and fun all over downtown Raleigh. Stages in every corner of downtown will ring out with bluegrass, folk, Americana, gospel and the best audience in the world. David Brower, the Executive Director of Raleigh Wide Open, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new festival.

For the past 10 years, Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has held DEAH DAY. It’s a day service in memory of Deah Barakat, a second-year DDS student, Yusor Abu-Salha, incoming DDS student, and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha, who were killed in 2015 at their apartment in Chapel Hill. Amr Saleh is a student organizer for DEAH Day. Amr joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the special day for someone who died far too soon.

Two recent studies from the American Cancer Society show a sharp rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults ages 45 to 49 — the very group newly eligible for screenings since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age from 50 to 45. Dr. Dan Neumann, gastroenterologist with SCA Health, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the importance of early screening.

On the winding roads near Grandfather Mountain, the first streaks of red and gold are beginning to show. But if you wait too long this year, you may miss them. A drier-than-normal fall across much of North Carolina, layered on top of a long-term warming trend, is threatening to dull the brilliance and shorten the window of one of the state’s most cherished autumn traditions. Robert Bardon, Professor of Forestry at N.C. State University, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the impact of climate change on the fall colors.

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of lying to Congress. The case comes just days after President Donald Trump appeared to call on his attorney general to prosecute Comey and other political rivals. The indictment makes Comey the first senior government official tied to Trump’s long-running grievance over the 2016 Russia investigation to face prosecution. Mac McCorkle, with the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss whether there’s any substance to the Comey indictment.

A new High Point University poll shows mixed feelings among North Carolinians about the nation’s leaders. President Donald Trump received a 41% approval rating, while 47% disapprove and 12% offered no opinion. Closer to home, Governor Josh Stein’s job approval stands at 46%. Dr. Martin Kifer, Director of the High Point University Poll, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the findings.

Medical emergencies in the air may be more common—and more serious—than most travelers realize. With nearly five billion people flying each year, a new study led by Duke Health researchers analyzed more than 77,000 in-flight medical events reported to the world’s busiest airline medical support center. The findings show that while most incidents are minor, thousands of passengers required hospital care after landing, and in some cases, emergencies proved fatal or forced aircraft diversions.Dr. Alexandre Rotta, from the Department of Pediatrics at the Duke University School of Medicine, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the study.

A new documentary is shining a spotlight on Broadway and motherhood. Satisfied, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, follows Tony and Grammy Award–winning performer Renée Elise Goldsberry, best known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. The film explores her personal journey as she balances family life and stardom. It also features North Carolina native and former Raleigh resident Ariana DeBose, another Hamilton alum. Rich French, Chairman of French West Vaughan, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Satisfied.

Jon Champion talks with Pam Springs of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission about preventing deadly carbon monoxide poisoning — especially when using generators during storm season. She shares essential safety tips to keep your family protected when the power goes out.

Mark Gangloff UNC Swimming Head Coach

Artificial intelligence is making its way into one university’s curriculum to help teach the next batch of North Carolina nurses. North Carolina Central University is the first in the state to have an immersive technology room on campus. It’s a new way for students to learn and grow in preparation for their career in medicine. Janice Collins-McNeil, an Associate Professor of North Carolina Central University’s Department of Nursing, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how AI is benefitting the program.

In a major move to close the skills gap and fuel career opportunities, Wake Tech Community College has joined forces with Autodesk, a global leader in Design and Make technology, and Kimley-Horn, one of the nation’s top planning and design consultancy firms. This collaboration will deliver state-of-the-art software and curricula, immersive and hands-on training from industry leaders, and valuable real-world experience to students to ensure they gain the technical skills and certifications needed to succeed in rapidly evolving fields. Scott Ralls, the President of Wake Tech Community College, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new partnership.

President Donald Trump has announced his administration is recommending women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless necessary. He claims Tylenol is linked to autism, but experts criticize this as unfounded. Trump also made several erroneous statements including incorrectly stating the history of autism rates and that vaccines play a role. Additionally, medical professionals emphasize that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy when needed. David Laxton, with the Autism Society of North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss statements from the Trump Administration.

The outlook for the U.S. economy among financial decision-makers improved somewhat in the third quarter of 2025, as uncertainty declined. However, concerns about the impact of tariffs on prices and business performance continued to weigh on firms, according to the CFO Survey, a collaboration of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta. John Graham, from the Duke Fuqua School of Business, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the outlook.

Right now, more than 607,000 are food insecure across the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina’s 34-county area service area. At the same time, the USDA has announced a decision to end public reporting of food insecurity data nationwide. Jason Stephany, the Vice President of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the USDA’s decision and the impact it will have on people.

Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to late-night television after a nearly weeklong suspension. The suspension triggered a national discussion about freedom of speech and President Donald Trump’s ability to police the words of journalists, commentators and even comics. Two groups of ABC affiliates that denounced Kimmel last week said they would not carry his return on Tuesday. Phil Napoli from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Kimmel’s return.

There’s another new addition at Durham Technical Community College. Durham Tech and Novo Nordisk broke ground on a new Life Sciences Center on Monday. The new 35,000 square foot center is an innovative facility designed to prepare students for careers in biotechnology and other life science fields. President J.B. Buxton joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new center.

President Donald Trump's announcement of a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas caused a flurry of confusion among companies that use the visa program, as well as among immigrant workers and countries around the world, as they tried to gauge its impact. The H1-B via program is a legal immigration program that allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire skilled foreign workers in "specialty occupations" across health care, tech and finance industries, among other STEM-related fields. It will also have an impact in Wake County. Steve Rao, a member of the Morrisville Town Council, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the impact it will have locally.

It may seem hard to believe now, but there was once a time where the political world was more civil. Rufus Edmisten was the Democratic nominee for governor in North Carolina in 1984. Republican Jim Martin would eventually win that election. Edmisten and Martin would go on to work together on legislation that would help North Carolinians in their day-to-day lives. Now, Edmisten is the co-host of the Weekend Gardner. He’s also writing a book about the importance of bringing civility back to the political world, and everyday life. Edmisten joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the project.

A candlelight vigil was held in Raleigh Sunday in memory of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Hundreds of people attended the memorial service held outside Wake GOP headquarters on Sunday. The event included prayer, hymns, tributes from organizers with Wake County GOP, and remarks from state officials Luke Farley and Dave Boliek. Sandy Joiner, Chairwoman of the Wake County Republican Party, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the vigil and her memories of Kirk.

Spinal cord injury is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, often impacting young people who face a lifetime of physical and neurological challenges ahead. A new study questions a widely accepted treatment strategy in the critical first days after injury, findings that could reshape ICU protocols and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Miriam Treggiari, senior author of the study from Duke University, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her findings.

Former Appalachian State football coach Shawn Clark has passed away. Clark was a Mountaineer through and through, playing as an offensive lineman on Appalachian's 1995 Southern Conference championship team that went undefeated in the regular season. He served as an assistant coach on two FCS national championship teams before being named the head coach in 2020. Clark led ASU to two Sun Belt Conference division championships and a win at Texas A&M in 2023. Shawn Clark was 50. Thomas Sherrill, a writer for the Franklin Press who has covered Appalachian football, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the life of Shawn Clark.

How will tariffs and hidden costs affect new vehicle purchases? Jon Champion sits down with Brian Moody, Executive Editor of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, to break down what car buyers need to know about pricing pressures, supply challenges, and the true cost of driving a new vehicle off the lot.

Media and culture expert Robert Thompson from Syracuse University talked about the controvery surrounding comments made by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel -- and his subsequent suspension by ABC

Jimmy Kimmel’s television future is hanging in the balance after ABC suspended his late-night show following the host’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing. The comments prompted dozens of stations to say they wouldn’t air the show, a move that was cheered on by a top federal regulator. The veteran late-night comic made several remarks on Monday and Tuesday about the reaction to the conservative activist’s assassination, including saying that “many in MAGA land" were working to capitalize on Kirk's killing. Charlie Tuggle of the UNC Huffman School of Journalism joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the fallout of Kimmel’s controversial removal.

Jeff Hamlin talked with Rabbi Mendy Wilshchasky aboute the upcoming Jewish holidays.

Early voting is underway in Durham. Voters will cast their ballots over the next 16 days. There are city council seats up for grabs and there's also the mayoral race. Current mayor Leonardo Williams is facing four opponents in his re-election bid. His challengers include Anajnee Bell, the daughter of longtime Durham mayor Bill Bell. Other challengers include Rafiq Zaidi, Lloyd Phillips and Pablo Friedmann. Cat Lawson, Voter Protection Lawyer for the N.C. Democratic Party, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what voters need to know as early voting gets underway.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is adding an Irish flair to its offerings.. At an airport announcement festooned with green balloons, Aer Lingus was introduced as the newest carrier to serve the region. Airport president and CEO Michael Landguth says there's already interest in the destination. Landguth joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the newest addition at RDU.

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. Cody Morris, Senior Economic Research Analyst at UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the cut will impact the economy.

North Carolina has one of the largest concentrations of modernist homes in the nation; in large part thanks to NC State's Design School. The reason we still have so many mid-century modern homes in the region is because of George Smart. Inspired by a teardown of a modernist home in Raleigh years ago, George decided the best way to prevent those in the future was to raise awareness and create demand for these houses. George Smart joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss N.C. State’s Design School.

Utah Valley University students are returning to classes Wednesday for the first time since an assassin struck down conservative activist Charlie Kirk in an attack that stunned the nation. Some students stood silently and stared down at the still-barricaded courtyard where Kirk was shot. On Tuesday, prosecutors charged a 22-year-old Utah man with capital murder. They say that during the frantic search to find Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson texted his romantic partner and confessed to carrying out the attack. CBS News legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the legal fallout from Kirk’s assassination.

A new simulation hospital built to help train students in the healthcare field is coming to Wake Tech. On Tuesday, Wake Tech president Dr. Scott Ralls, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, members of Wake Med and the Wake County Board of Commissioners broke ground on the new project. Once it’s built, it will be one of the largest and most comprehensive simulation hospitals in the country. This is the first expansion of the Wake Tech’s Perry Health Sciences campus in more than a decade. Wake Tech President Scott Rawls joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new hospital.

A former North Carolina Democratic congressman whose bid for U.S. Senate ended several weeks ago announced Tuesday that he is running to become the top prosecutor in the state’s largest county. Ex-U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, who also served previously as a state legislator, said he wants to become the next Wake County district attorney. Current DA Lorrin Freeman has said she will not seek another four-year term in 2026. Nickel joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his candidacy.

The Duke Quantum Center cleared a major NSF gate and has been awarded $2M to proceed with designing a 256-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer. This would be one of the largest quantum computers in academia and could help position Durham as a national hub for quantum R&D. The Duke-led team is among the first in the nation to advance in NSF's highly competitive program, whose ultimate prize could be funding worth $10 million annually for 12 years.

Melanie Shekita, a 27-year career prosecutor, has announced her campaign for Wake County District Attorney. Shekita grew up in Raleigh, graduated from Broughton High School, got her undergraduate degree at UNC Chapel Hill and her law degree at Campbell University. After passing the bar, she joined the Wake County District Attorney’s Office in December 1998. She joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her candidacy.

Virginia Tech has fired Brent Pry after three-plus seasons, with his tenure beginning and ending in losses to Old Dominion. The Hokies are once again searching for a leader who can restore the program to the heights of the Frank Beamer era. Meanwhile, UCLA dismissed Charlotte native DeShaun Foster after an 0-3 start that included losses to UNLV and New Mexico. Dave Glenn of the North Carolina Sports Network joined Jeff Hamlin to break down the coaching changes.

Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit based in Raleigh, is leading an initiative called The Black Box Project. The program analyzes digital footprints to identify warning signs that may precede suicide, with the goal of saving lives before it’s too late. Austin Grimes, Chief Product Officer with Stop Soldier Suicide, joined Jeff Hamlin to explain how the project works and its potential impact.

It’s been more than two months since Tropical Depression Chantal tore through Chapel Hill, and for some residents, recovery has been slow and painful. One woman who relied on her RV for housing is finding the road back to normal much harder than expected. Dale Sela, a Realtor with Blue Moon Properties in Chapel Hill, joined Jeff Hamlin to share her story.

The fatal stabbing on a Charlotte light-rail train last month has reignited debate over the death penalty in North Carolina. On Thursday, Senate leader Phil Berger called for ending the state’s moratorium, blaming judges, doctors, and elected officials for halting executions due to what he described as “leftist political biases” rather than justice for victims’ families. Noel Nickle, with the North Carolina Center for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the issue.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was assassinated as he parried questions from an audience of thousands at a Utah college. The shooter has not been found. Authorities say Kirk was killed with a single shot from a rooftop on Wednesday. Whoever fired the gun then slipped away amid the chaos of screams and students fleeing the Utah Valley University campus. Tami Fitzgerald is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Values Coalition. She joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Kirk’s legacy.

Paul Lewis Vice President for the N.C. State Chapter of Turning Point USA) NC State students involved in Turning Point USA, the conservative youth advocacy organization co-founded by Charlie Kirk, are reacting with shock and grief after his assassination at a college event in Utah, Wednesday. Chapter Vice President Paul Lewis is hosted a vigil for Kirk at the Talley Student Union in Raleigh. Lewis joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what he’ll remember about Kirk

State lawmakers are offering their own ideas to fight crime, after the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on the Charlotte light rail system -- Speaking to reporters at the legislative building, State Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said one proposal will address the return of the death penalty. Ned Mangum is a former Wake County District Attorney. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the challenges that magistrates face in keep recidivists behind bars.