WPTF Afternoon News

Duke University has been granted a temporary restraining order that keeps quarterback Darian Mensah from entering a new institution until a preliminary injunction hearing on February 2. However, Duke has entered Mensah's name into the transfer portal. Mensah announced plans to enter the transfer portal last Friday. Previously, Mensah announced plans to return to Duke to fulfill the second year of the contract he signed last year. Dave Glenn from the North Carolina Sports Network joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the legal fallouts of this case.

Chances for a significant to potentially severe winter storm this weekend continue to increase. Exact details remain unclear at this time, but a threat for significant snow and ice accumulation is possible. Not everyone can stay off the roads whenever the winter weather hits. Tiffany Wright of AAA Carolinas joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how to safely drive in the winter weather.

Wake Tech has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with Wake County Public Schools, underscoring a shared commitment to providing students with powerful, affordable pathways to college and career success through the Career and College Promise program. Brian Gann, Wake Tech Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services.

A potential winter storm this weekend could have a huge impact on the Triangle. Lows across the Triangle will be in the low teens on Saturday and Sunday nights. That has officials from Duke Energy on alert preparing for potential power outages. Gary Stephenson, Spectrum News One Meteorologist, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the potential for winter weather.

President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland have strained relations with America's key NATO allies. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, criticized Trump's approach on Tuesday, warning of potential retaliation. The European Union's top official calls the tariffs a "mistake," questioning Trump's reliability. Trump argues the U.S. needs Greenland to counter threats from China and Russia. Greenland's leader insists on respect for international law. Sarah Dickerson, from the UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the international impact of the tariffs.

Less than a month before his trial was set to begin, Austin Thompson will plead guilty in the Hedingham mass shooting from 2022. Thompson’s attorneys filed motions for a guilty plea from the defendant on Tuesday morning. Thompson is accused of killing five people in the Hedingham neighborhood and his trial was scheduled to begin on Feb. 2. Carl Fox, a former North Carolina judge, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what may have led to Thompson’s decision.

New federal screening guidelines are expanding ways for women to be tested for cervical cancer. Starting in January 2027, private insurers will cover a self-collection option that will allow for at-home testing. Dr. Lisa Rahangdale, a Professor of General Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Midwifery at the UNC School of Medicine, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the importance of cervical cancer screening.

Just when things were trending inn the right direction for Duke football, there was stunning news on Friday. Quarterback Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal. The news comes just two weeks after Mensah announced he would return to Durham next season. Mensah led Duke to the ACC Championship last month and most likely is headed to a conference rival…Miami. Conor O’Neil, the Publisher of Devils Illustrated, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the sudden departure of Duke’s star quarterback.

European Union leaders are using strong language like "intimidation" and "blackmail" to describe U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of new tariffs over Greenland. This marks a shift in tone since Trump returned to the White House a year ago. The idea of NATO's most powerful member threatening an ally's territory is shocking to most among its ranks. How much of an impact will President Trump’s tariffs have on North Carolina’s farmers? Jeffrey Dorfman, N.C. State Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss tariffs and state farmers.

A former chairman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, who played a pivotal role in bringing football coach Bill Belichick to the school, has left the board. John Preyer, whose term as chairman ended in July, but remained a member of the board, submitted a letter of resignation last week. Dave Glenn, from the North Carolina Sports Network and Chapelboro.com, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the abrupt departure.

Just 10 months before the general election, two candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina are giving a clearer picture of their individual campaigns. North Carolina’s Senate election is considered among the most competitive of the 2026 midterms. Incumbent Republican Thom Tillis is not seeking re-election to a third term, leaving the seat open. Bryan Anderson, from Anderson Alerts on Substack, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments in North Carolina’s Senate race.

President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis. Trump made the threat Thursday. A day earlier, a federal officer in the city shot and wounded a man who had attacked the officer with a shovel and broom handle. N.C. State political science professor Steven Greene joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the political implications of the ongoing situation in Minnesota.

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid met on January 13. Members heard presentations about the effects of federal funding cuts to Medicaid and new workforce requirements for beneficiaries. KFF estimates North Carolina will see a reduction of $23 billion in federal funding in the next decade as a result of the cuts. Lisa Poteat, Executive Director of the Arc of NC, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the impact of the cuts.

Hidden Historian Heather Leah brings lost history to life through interactive stories, tours, books, livestreams and more. Later this month, her book “Lost Towns of North Carolina” will be released. She explores everything from ghost towns to lost cemeteries, from secret tunnels through the mountains to underwater cities. She's passionate about uncovering history that isn't in traditional history books, including amplifying voices of marginalized communities and preserving oral history of senior populations. Heather Leah joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the project.

Inflation declined a bit last month as prices for gas and used cars fell, a sign that cost pressures are slowly easing. The Labor Department said Tuesday that consumer prices rose 0.3% in December from the prior month, the same as in November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.2%, also matching November’s figure. Steve Allen, N.C. State Economics Professor, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new numbers.

Professional softball is coming to Durham. Athletes Unlimited Softball League has announced Durham will be the home city for the Carolina Blaze. The Blaze will play its games at Duke's Smith Family Stadium. Their first game will be on June 9. Among the players on the roster will be former Duke pitchers Ana Gold and Jala Wright, who each were on the roster when the Blue Devils became the first North Carolina team to ever reach the Women's College World Series in 2024. Marcus Manning, the Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the arrival of the Blaze.

Sailor Jones has been named the new Executive Director of Common Cause NC. He succeeds Bob Phillips, who retired from the organization this month after helming Common Cause’s North Carolina office for a quarter-century as a stalwart champion of voter empowerment and government accountability. Jones joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his new role.

The Raleigh Convention Center is open again. Just over a month after fire damaged the roof of the building, the center opened its doors again on Monday. Documents show that more than $800,000 has been spent to fix the building, including work to install a temporary roof and clean up water damage inside. Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Center, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss being open again.

Immunotherapy is offering new hope for cancers that once had grim prognoses by harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight the disease, often sparing patients from the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. But its success may hinge on everyday medications people are taking during treatment. Nicholas DeVito, from the Duke University School of Medicine, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the commentary highlighted in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

As North Carolina grapples with what state officials call "crisis-level shortages" in the caregiving sector, Duke students are part of an innovative solution—providing hands-on care to Durham families while building the clinical experience medical schools demand. CareYaya Health Technologies matches pre-health students nationwide with families needing affordable care.

Siembra NC is set to host demonstrations on Wednesday in the memory of Renee Good. Demonstrations are set for Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington in the memory of Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent last week. Emmanuel Gomez Gonzalez from Siembra NC joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the demonstrations.

The Wake County Animal Center will temporarily close Friday, January 16, through March 2, 2026, for building repairs and maintenance. The Center will be closed for animal intake and adoptions. Meagan Frost, Wake County Outreach Manager, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the closure and what services will be interrupted.

Five years after video of George Floyd's killing on a Minneapolis street, video of another law enforcement action in the northern city is central to another American debate. But times have changed. The video images of Renee Good's shooting while protesting against ICE immigration enforcement tell a much murkier story than the politce officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes. People are also becoming more desensitized to images of violence, and questioning whether what they see is real or not. Lee Turner, an attorney and former police officer, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the situation surrounding Renee Good.

The group We the Patients will host their first Town Hall event at the Friday Center at UNC-Chapel Hill later this month. The event is designed to engage and organize Cancer patients to collectively call for reform to the nation’s healthcare policy. Matthew Zachary, the Executive Director of We the Patients, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the event.

Greenland’s harsh environment, lack of key infrastructure and difficult geology have prevented anyone from building a mine to extract the sought-after rare earth elements that many high-tech products require. Those challenges won't go away even if President Donald Trump takes control of the Arctic island. Trump has made it a priority to break China’s stranglehold on the global supply of rare earths and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to do that. Now the president is again pitching that taking over Greenland could solve the problem. But Greenland may not ever produce many rare earths because of the inherent challenges. Tim Nichols, from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the potential intervention of Greenland.

Ryan Camacho is charged with the death of Ravenscroft science teacher Zoe Welsh. But a Durham woman says Camacho broke into her home years ago—twice. Michelle Potchak believes the Durham courts failed to take the situation seriously at the time and now worries that if Camacho had been behind bars earlier, Welsh might still be alive. Potchak joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how run-in with Camacho.

Local activists plan to hold demonstrations on Thursday to protest the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Minnesota state and local officials demanded ICE leave after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot in the head Wednesday. Steve Rao, a former Morrisville Town Councilman, says he has heard from residents after the shooting. Rao joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the feedback from local residents.

Holding handmade signs with pleas for more funding and support, groups of educators and their supporters gathered at intersections in Wake County on Wednesday. The groups were among the hundreds of teachers calling out of school to push state lawmakers for higher pay for advanced degrees. Alyssa Johnson, from NC Teachers in Action, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their demonstration.

The Rotary District 7710’s MLK Day of Service Meal Packing Program, one of the District's largest initiatives, returns for its 19th year on January 19, 2026. Started by the Durham Rotary Club in 2007, the program has provided over 2 million meals to individuals and families experiencing hunger. Kathleen Cody, Regional Coordinator for MLK Day of Service in Raleigh, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss this year’s program.

Wake Tech is starting the spring semester with record-breaking enrollment, as more students choose the college to pursue their educational and career goals. On Wednesday, nearly 27,000 degree-seeking students will begin classes – an increase of over 8% compared to last spring. This includes 22,000 continuing students and more than 4,500 new students. Brian Gann, Wake Tech Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the start of a new semester.

On the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, there's no official event to memorialize what happened. Instead, the day displayed the divisions that still define Washington, and the country — with the White House releasing its own report with a revised history of what happened. Congresswoman Deborah Ross had just been elected when the riot happened. She joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her memories of that day.

The most popular New Year’s Resolution is to get healthier – whether by eating better or working out. In fact, a new national survey found that staying generally healthy (36%), living longer and better (30%), and maintaining physical activity (30%) are top health goals, signaling that transformation isn't just about looking better—it's about feeling better. Stacy Anderson, Global Brand President of Anytime Fitness, joined Jeff Hamlin on how to keep your goals active after National Quitting Day.

Austin Thompson is accused of killing five people in the Hendingham neighborhood and his trial is scheduled to begin in less than a month. Monday was the deadline for the defense and prosecution to file motions ahead of the trial. The defense submitted a motion asking for the court to block certain cell phone and computer data. Carl Fox, a legal expert and former judge, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what the new motion means.

The leader of Common Cause NC is stepping down. Bob Phillips will retire at the end of this month. Phillips has helped to shape anti-corruption laws and organize support for voting rights. He has worked with other groups like the League of Women Voters, Democracy NC, and the North Carolina NAACP to remove obstacles to voting. Phillips joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his decision to step down.

Tyler Hansbrough, the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina men's basketball history, will be enshrined into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame this May. Hansbrough will be one of eleven inductees. He'll be joined by longtime Florida State men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, Houston Cougars basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, longtime pro golfer Chip Beck, former tennis star John Isner, UNC soccer star Eddie Pope, and former North Carolina Central safety Louis Breeden. Johnny Moore, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the class of 2026.

“Breaking the Booth,” a Carolina Theatre of Durham-produced documentary, follows Durham’s youth protesters during the Civil Rights Movement as they fought to desegregate the Carolina Theatre and integrate public and private facilities across the city. On January 19, Breaking the Booth will have its grand opening at the Carolina Theatre. J.D. Jones, the Director of Breaking the Booth, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the film.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the United States would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, a turnaround after President Donald Trump announced a day earlier that the U.S. would be running Venezuela following its ouster of leader Nicolás Maduro. Rubio’s statements on TV talk shows seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. Mac McCorkle, from the Duke University School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss whether this is a repeat of the Iraqi invasion of 2005.

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro declares himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleads not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. Maduro told a judge in New York on Monday, “I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country." Maduro was making his first appearance in an American courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York. Josh McConkey is a resident of Wake County who flew air assault missions in combat environments. McConkey joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how the surprise mission in Venezuela took place

For the past decade, Mount Airy, which is also known as Mayberry, the fictitious town from the "Andy Griffith Show," rings in the new year by raising a giant sheriff's badge. Seth Gibbons, the Director of Programs and Education with the Town of Mt. Airy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their annual New Year’s Eve celebration.

Braswell Family Farms is hosting its first-ever New Year’s Eve egg drop on Wednesday night. There will be a fireworks display at this family friendly event that will including music and plenty of food. Trey Braswell of Braswell Family Farms joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the first Egg Drop in Nash County.

Duke will face Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve. The Blue Devils are making its second appearance in the Sun Bowl. As fate would have it, Arizona State defeated Duke to win the 2014 Sun Bowl with a touchdown in the final minute. The Blue Devils are coming in after winning the ACC Championship. Conor O’Neill is the publisher of Devils Illustrated. He discussed Duke’s matchup against Arizona State.

The retirement of Thom Tillis. The return of Roy Cooper to the political scene and a state Supreme Court race that seemingly wouldn’t end. Those were among the top political stories from 2025, according to Westen Carolina University Political Science professor Chris Cooper. Cooper, author of the book “Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer,” joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the top North Carolina political stories from 2025.

It’s a tradition in McDowell County. On New Year’s Eve, the Nugget will drop to start a new year. The event features a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, music for street dancing, after the midnight gold nugget drop. OmI Salavaea, from Destination McDowell, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what’s coming up in McDowell County on New Year’s Eve.

President Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace deal, but he acknowledges that negotiations could still break down and leave the war dragging on for years. Trump spoke Sunday as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort. Earlier Trump had what he described as an “excellent,” two-and-a-half-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Graeme Robertson is a political science professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the latest developments.

Longtime North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt was laid to rest on Friday. Hunt served more terms as governor than any man in state history. He was also influential with many communities across the state. Steve Rao worked with Jim Hunt on issues regarding Morrisville’s Indian population. Rao joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his work with Governor Hunt.

CBS News suddenly shelved a “60 Minutes” segment featuring the accounts of Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration to a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Now one of its own correspondents fears the program is being “dismantled,” and some employees are threatening to quit. Phil Napoli, Professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the explosive move.

As the New Year approaches, many families are looking not just for celebrations and resolutions, but for stability, peace of mind, and kindness. In response, a local church is stepping in to offer a night of fun with a purpose.Pastor Johnathan Thomas of Center Point Church in Garner, and his wife Jessica, joined Jon Champion to talk about the church’s New Year’s Eve Sneaker Ball: a community celebration featuring food, games, fellowship, and a $50 cash prize for the best outfit, all while supporting families who don’t qualify for traditional assistance programs.

Former Governor Jim Hunt passed away on December 18th at the age of 88. Former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory joined Gayle Hurd to talk about his fellow former governor and how his time as governor changed the office in North Carolina and how he stayed as a strong presence and mentor to other governors even after he left office.

Former Governor Jim Hunt passed away on December 18th at the age of 88. Former Secretary of State for North Carolina Rufus Edmisten joined Gayle Hurd to talk about the former governor and how his leadership shaped NC and how his legacy will live on in North Carolina politics

The N.C. State men’s basketball team returned to Reynolds Coliseum on Wednesday night to play its annual Heritage Game. In another generation, the holiday season meant that Reynolds Coliseum was the basketball capital of the world because of the Dixie Classic. Legendary coaches and players would descend to Raleigh every December for a holiday tournament held at Reynolds. Tim Peeler, an N.C. State historian, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how special the holiday season was at Reynolds.