WPTF Afternoon News

Anyone who’s taken the train from Raleigh to Richmond, Virginia knows it can take some time. The faster route is along what’s known as the S-Line, which is currently a freight line. Virginia and North Carolina are purchasing it to grow freight and passenger rail. Jason Orthner, N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Division Director, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the S-Line

Justin Gainey is coming home. The former N.C. State guard will be named the new head coach of the Wolfpack. Gainey has been an assistant for Rick Barnes at Tennessee for the past four years. He played for the Wolfpack under Herb Sendek, playing every minute of all four games for State during its run to the ACC Tournament championship game in 1997. Gainey has also been an assistant at Appalachian State, Santa Clara and Arizona. Cory Smith of Pack Power joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Gainey returning to Raleigh.

Every month, a group named Empowered is helping teenagers build character and values. Jayden Watkins is the Founder of Higher is Waiting. Empowered serves as a youth mentorship and leadership program. Watkins joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how he started Higher is Waiting.

Duke University is known for its top-tier academics, cutting-edge research, and legendary basketball team, but if you ask students their favorite thing about Duke, a number of them will answer, “The puppies.” A group of Duke students have stepped up to keep the Duke Puppy Kindergarten open. Vanessa Woods, with the Duke Puppy Kindergarten, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the students helped.

The impact of drought and a conflict half a world away could soon show up on peoples’ grocery bills, as North Carolina farmers head into a critical planting season facing higher prices for fuel and fertilizer. John Burt, a ninth-generation farmer and president of the Wake County Farm Bureau, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the increases are impacting farmers

Duke is preparing for St. John's in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament's East Regional tomorrow night. Every year where the Blue Devils have won the National Championship, they've defeated St. John's. Once again, Red Storm coach Rick Pitino faces Duke. Pitino was the Kentucky head coach when Christian Laettner hit his famed buzzer-beater to win the 1992 East Regional championship. Conor O’Neill, publisher for Devils Illustrated, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the showdown on Friday night.

The Red Reckoning is over after one year. Will Wade is leaving N.C. State to return to LSU as head men's basketball coach. Wade signed a six-year contract last March vowing to return the Wolfpack to the glory days of Jim Valvano. While State did beat a shorthanded UNC team, they lost six of its last seven, three times by over 25 points. Brett Friedlander, a writer for Straight Up Sports.net, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the departure.

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger has conceded the March 3 Republican primary for his legislative seat to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Berger conceded on Tuesday after a hand recount of some ballots kept that margin at 23 votes. President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger, who has been Senate leader since 2011. Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina Political Science Professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Berger’s storied legacy.

UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts spoke publicly for the first time since firing head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis. The decision to fire Davis after five seasons came after a recommendation from athletic director Bubba Cunningham and Executive Associate athletic director Steve Newmar, who will replace Cunningham on July 1. Roberts accepted the recommendation on Tuesday. Greg Barnes of Inside Carolina joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the firing of Davis.

Marcus Neubacher Director of Administration for the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation) The North Carolina Transportation Museum is celebrating a major milestone. In 2025, the site had a projected economic impact in Rowan County of just over $32 million, which is a record high. It's up more than 5.5% from the previous all-time high of $30.4 million in 2024. Marcus Neubacher, Director of Administration for the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the museum.

Pollen season is definitely here. You can see the yellow pine pollen on everything and other tree pollens are going after your nose. Shawn Taylor, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, joined Bruce Ferrell to discuss how a lack of rain my impact the amount of pollen locally.

Phil Berger has conceded the Senate District 26 race after the margin of 23 votes did not change after a number of recounts. Former News and Observer writer and political insider Rob Christensen joined Bruce Ferrell to talk about what Berger's decision means and what lies ahead for Sam Page

If UNC decides to move on from Hubert Davis, it will likely mark a landmark moment in Carolina basketball. Since Frank McGuire became the Tar Heels head coach in 1952, the leader of UNC men’s basketball has always been associated with the program. From Dean Smith to Bill Guthridge to Matt Doherty to Roy Williams to Davis, the lineage of Carolina basketball has been long and successful. Thad Williamson is an author and writer for Tar Heel Tribune. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss potential big changes ahead for a local tradition.

Josh Ellis and Bruce Ferrell breaks down Senate President Phil Berger’s concession in the razor-thin District 26 Republican primary and what it means for Sam Page. From the recount drama to the broader political impact, this breaking news coverage looks at how the outcome could reshape power in Raleigh and beyond.

Amid ongoing speculation about his future, there’s still no word on whether Hubert Davis will return for a sixth season as UNC’s men’s basketball’s coach. As the waiting game continues, is the delay over Davis’ future hurting UNC’s search? David Glenn, from the North Carolina Sports Network and Chapelboro.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the delay

U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is talking with an Iranian leader and claims the Islamic Republic is eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying Monday that it has an additional five days. Olivia Rinaldi of CBS News joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments

Hubert Davis’ days as the North Carolina men’s basketball coach are reportedly numbered. CBS Sports reports a primary group of UNC boosters met late Friday afternoon with university stakeholders. The report states that if Davis stays, the money for roster-building next season would be lacking. Andrew Jones, a Writer for Tar Heel 24/7, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest regarding Davis.

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina. The milestone coincides with March Madness, one of the biggest moments in the U.S. sports betting calendar. Millions of dollars in sports betting has come into the state since March 2024. Brad Senkiw, a gambling industry analyst for Covers.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how much the legalization has impacted the state.

It might seem impossible to get away from the constant barrage of news these days, but in Raleigh, people are “bathing” in nature to wash away stress. A Sunday morning session at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh was led by certified forest therapy guide Shawn Ramsey, a certified forest therapy guide. Ramsey joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the Japanese wellness practice of Shinrin-yoku.

Bruce Ferrell talks with U.S. State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Mignon Houston about services they offer for overseas travelers.

Fred Kiger Winner of the Skeeter Francis Award) Anyone familiar with watching ACC basketball is familiar with Fred Kiger. He has been behind the scenes on ACC broadcasts for years. He’s also a Civil War historian, a teacher, a trivia question writer and now, the winner of the Skeeter Francis Award for long-standing service in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kiger joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss being honored during last weekend’s ACC Tournament.

After a national search, William Peace University has named Jennifer E. Walsh as its 13th president. Walsh has 25 years of strategic leadership experience, including being senior vice president for strategic initiatives and chief strategy officer at Hawai‘i Pacific University. Walsh joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her new role.

North and South Carolinians should be prepared for a bug boom over the next few months, according to the National Pest Management Association. The NPMA Bug Barometer shows a warm, wet spring will boost activity for a variety of pests.

The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the increasingly uncertain outlook for the U.S. economy and inflation in the wake of the Iran war, suggesting the Fed could stand pat for an extended period. Connel Fullenkamp, Duke University Professor of Economics, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest economic outlook.

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, yet the illness is hardest to catch at the very beginning, when new treatments may work best. In a new study, Duke Health researchers show that a quick, outpatient nasal swab can pick up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s, even before thinking and memory problems appear. Vincent D’Anniballe, the lead researcher in the study, discuss their findings with Jeff Hamlin

We’ve long had your back, now it’s our turn. That is how the famously transactional U.S. President Donald Trump is framing his demands that allies help him with the Iran war. He wants to call in IOUs for decades of U.S. security guarantees. The string of refusals indicates that his stock of European goodwill is low. Jeff McCausland, CBS News Military consultant, joined Bruce Ferrell to discuss the latest in Iran

Duke University and the Duke University Health System are committing to a $203 million investment over three years across the Triangle. It's called the HomeGrown initiative. Duke developed the initiative with community input from Durham and Wake County residents, community organizations and business owners and Duke employees. Syretta Hill, Senior Director for Economic Mobility at Duke University, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the initiative.

Phil Berger, the powerful NC Senate leader, trails challenger Sam Page in the GOP primary for Berger’s seat. Berger wanted state officials to pay special attention to certain ballots in an effort to close a 23-vote gap. They declined. Patrick Sebastian, Post Election Advisor for Sam Page, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the decision by the elections board.

A music studio in 1976, Where an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of superstardom. Featuring original music by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler, "Stereophonic", the most Tony Award-winning Show of 2024. The most Tony Award-nominated Play of all time is coming to the DPAC tonight through Sunday. Gayle Hurd talks to Lauren Wilmore who plays Holly about all things stereophonic!

The National League of Cities will host over 2,500 mayors, councilmembers and local officials from across the country for its annual Congressional City Conference this week. Jeanne Milliken Bonds, a former Mayor of Knightdale who served as a UNC-Chapel Hill Business School professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to talk about the conference.

With St. Patrick’s Day celebrations underway, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to celebrate responsibly as the statewide “Booze It & Lose It” campaign began Monday. It will continue through Sunday. Lindsay Poe with the N.C. Department of Transportation joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the campaign.

Democrats have high hopes for North Carolina in the November midterms, but a new poll offers a reality check. The poll, released Monday by Public Policy Polling, has Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley by just three percentage points in the race for U.S. Senate. It’s Whatley’s best poll since the beginning of the campaign. Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest survey.

Senate leader Phil Berger has asked for a recount in the Republican primary for the District 26 seat. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page currently leads Berger by 23 votes. Recounts in North Carolina rarely flip elections. Berger would need to gain a net of 24 ballots. That hasn't happened in recent history. Bryan Anderson, an Assembly NC Reporter who has followed the race since last year, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Berger’s latest move.

Duke Energy says the company is urging central North Carolina residents to prepare for the risk of “tornadic activity.” Jeff Brooks of Duke Energy joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what North Carolina saw on Monday

A tornado watch issued for central North Carolina impacted flights at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. It brought the highest risk for severe weather in the Raleigh-Durham area since March 2021. Stephanie Hawco of Raleigh-Durham International Airport joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how RDU was impacted.

For the first time since March of 2021, central North Carolina was under a Level 4 risk out of 5 for severe thunderstorms on Monday. A Level 4 risk is an indication of potentially widespread severe weather. Phil Badgett of the National Weather Service in Raleigh joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what the area experienced.

Families often travel hours to Durham for specialized pediatric care at Duke Children’s Hospital. When treatment requires frequent visits or extended stays, parents often find themselves balancing the stress of a child’s diagnosis with the challenge of finding a stable place to live nearby. That need inspired the creation of Harper’s Home, a nonprofit working to provide housing for families traveling to Durham for pediatric treatment. Joining Jon Champion to talk about the mission and momentum behind Harper’s Home are the organization’s Executive Director, Heather Hindin, and Chief Inspiration Officer, Harper Harrell.

From food and fitness to childcare and home services, franchise businesses represent hundreds of industries that touch people’s daily lives. Franchises represent more than 8 million jobs and contribute over $900 billion to the economy. Matt Haller, International Franchise Association President, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how fast franchises have grown in North Carolina.

It’s been a week since the primary and the most noteworthy race in North Carolina is still undecided. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page maintains a narrow lead over Senate President Phil Berger. Carlton Huffman is an independent conservative and GOP strategist. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss primary day.

It’s been a strange weather week across central North Carolina. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there were record-setting highs at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Yet the high temperatures dropped roughly 25 degrees over the course of one day on Thursday. And there was even snow reported in Person County. CBS-17 Meteorologist Wes Hohenstein joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the strange pattern

Durham school employees are calling for higher pay and improved working conditions ahead of a key school board vote on next year's budget. The Durham Association of Educators held a rally on Thursday. Angel Parkstone, the President of the Durham Association of Educators, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their requests.

In November, things weren’t looking good for the Duke women’s basketball team. They were 3-5 coming off of lopsided losses to South Carolina and UCLA. Now, the Blue Devils are ACC Tournament champions again. The Blue Devils defeated Louisville in Duluth, Georgia to take the ACC Championship on Sunday. Chris Edwards is the Duke women’s play-by-play man. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the Blue Devils’ turnaround.

The Town of Cary has extended the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, ensuring the popular annual tradition will continue at Koka Booth Amphitheatre through the 2033-2034 season. Janie Curtis, the General Manager of the Koka Booth Amphitheatre, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how important the event has been to Cary.

When it comes to the war with Iran, President Donald Trump has cycled from calls for “unconditional surrender” to sounding amenable to an end state in which Iran trades one hard-line ayatollah for another. The shifting comments from the Republican president and his top aides have added to the precariousness of the 12-day-old conflict that's affecting the Middle East and causing economic tremors around the globe. Jeff McCausland of CBS News joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the uncertainty surrounding the war.

The Black Farmers Hub is known for natural and healthy products. Mona Lisa and Demetrius Hunter have brick-and-mortar location in Raleigh for 5 years, but recently they took their business on the road. Hunter and Lisa joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the Black Farmers Hub.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson sharply criticized the Justice Department's proposed settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, calling it "a bad deal" that fails to address what he described as an unlawful monopoly over the live events industry. Jackson joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the DOT ruling.

Gas prices have seen a dramatic increase in the last week. Some economists warn this could translate to you paying not only more at the pump, but also at places like the grocery store. N.C. State Economics Professor Emeritus Mike Walden discussed the higher prices, at and away from the pump, with Jeff Hamlin.

North Carolina’s child care crisis is costing the state an estimated $5.65 billion annually and sidelining approximately 100,000 parents of young children from the workforce. The crisis costs Ashe County about $5 million per year. Neil Harrington, Director of Policy and Research at N.C. Child, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss a roundtable slated for this week to examine the rising costs of child care.

A Chapel Hill woman returned home on Saturday after she was trapped in Israel as the war with Iran began. Lilia Austin was one of 100 women who were part of a Christian organization called Eagles' Wings, a group that focuses on building relationships between Christians and people of Jewish faith. Austin joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her experience in the Middle East at the start of the conflict.

North Carolina state Sen. Graig Meyer has announced his resignation. Meyer plans to become executive director of the North Carolina Justice Center, a group that advocates for rights for low-income people and justice system reforms. Meyer joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his departure from the Senate.