WPTF Morning News

The Senate has been attempting to find a solution to help hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th. Confirmation hearings are also coming up, not without some controversial picks. Ted Budd Joins Tony Riggsbee to talk about these issues and how senate is planning on tackling these issues

Sydney Batch has taken over the role of the Senate Democratic Leader and she joins Tony Riggsbee to talk about what her plans are as she takes over this role.

Mike Causey is reprising his role as Insurance commissioner of North Carolina. He joins Tony Riggsbee to talk about he has planned for the next 4 years.

Some good news for the economy but sometimes that could be bad for investors...what do we mean by that? Well it is time for Chris Edwards to break that down with CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger.

Are you thinking about a career change or perhaps always wanted to be involved in law enforcement? Well now is your chance - the Wake County Sheriff's office will be hosting their Detention Division Career Fair on Wednesday in Raleigh. With Chris Edwards to talk more about the career fair and the work they are doing for us each day is Officer Reinhart with the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation continues into the crash of a Korean plane, Delta announces record profits, and stowaways found dead inside the landing gear. These story's and more as Chris Edwards has his weekly conversation with Jay Ratliff.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin there lives one of Americas great treasurers that honors one of the best collectibles items you can find - the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and with it being National Bobblehead day earlier this month we wanted to highlight the museum and Hall of Fame and with Chris Edwards to talk more about the bobbleheads is Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

There is a familiar voice here that is moving to a new time, at least for us here on WPTF as Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla will be heard from noon until 3 beginning this afternoon and Jimmy kind enough to join Chris Edwards to talk about his show.

The newly elected members of the Council of State are off and running in their new posts leading several different areas of our states government. One of those new members is in the State Treasurer's office where Brad Briner won his race in November and has begun the work in Raleigh. The State Treasurer joined Chris Edwards in studio.

This month is National Blood Donor Month and given some of the natural disasters both in North Carolina with Hurricane Helene and now the devastating wildfires in California the need for blood is high. With Chris Edwards to discuss is Leslie Councilor Regional Donor Services Executive for the American Red Cross.

Preparations are underway as our area prepares for winter weather which could make travel treacherous tonight and through the morning on Saturday. With Chris Edwards to talk more about their storm preparations on the roads is Kim Deaner with the Department of Transportation.

Later today, our nation will honor our 39th President, Jimmy Carter with a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington. Mr. Carter passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia at the age of 100 last month and has been remembered fondly for the work he did while in office but also for his contributions across the globe after his Presidency. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Peter Mare, former CBS News White House Correspondent.

There is a lot to talk about with the weather, including the possibility of winter weather tomorrow night and those wild fires that continue to impact southern California. With Chris Edwards to break it all down is Nick Petro, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

There are a number of diseases that impact Americans on a daily basis but it is estimated that 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and with that in mind we wanted to talk more about this disease and its impact not just on patients but on families as a whole. With Chris Edwards to talk about this further is Dr. Kim, Johnson, Division Chief of Memory Disorders in the Duke Department of Neurology.

Congress is back in session this week as the 119th congress was sworn in last week and worked on Monday to certify the Presidential Election results and as this congress gets underway many are wondering if this version of congress will be more bipartisan than the previous. With Chris Edwards to discuss this and other news from Capitol Hill is North Carolina 2nd District Congresswomen Deborah Ross.

Seems like there is always something going on across the pond with the Royal Family and recently there has been much to talk about with the House of Windsor from a couple of cancer diagnosis to what is going on with Harry and Meaghan, Chris Edwards gets the latest on the Royals from Brittany Provance with the Royal News Network.

Winter weather could be on the way to our area later this week and with the possibly of some winter precipitation we wanted to get the latest on how Duke Energy prepares for winter storms and what you can do this winter to save money on that heating bill. With Chris Edwards now to discuss is Jeff Brooks, Duke Energy Spokesperson.

On Tuesday the State Supreme Court voted to delay the certification of the race between Justice Allison Riggs and Judge Jefferson Griffin while they study further the 60,000 ballots that are still in question. With Chris Edwards break this down is retired State Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.

The newly elected members of the Council of State are off and running in their new posts leading several different areas of our states government. One of those new members is the State Auditor where Dave Boliek won his race in November and has begun the work in Raleigh. The State Auditor kind enough to join us via telephone now.

On Monday, the 119th Congress met for the first time in a joint session to certify the Presidential Election results and closer to home, many of now Governor Stein's cabinet were sworn in yesterday. With Chris Edwards to break down all of this along with a number of other topics is David McLennen, Meredith College Political Science Professor.

Late last week the Surgeon General came out with a new warning that connects alcohol to caners. The 22-page advisory says alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in America after obesity and tobacco use. With Chris Edwards to talk more about this study is Dr. Brian Forrest the host of Access Health Radio heard here on WPTF.

We continue to think about our friends in western North Carolina as the recovery from Hurricane Helene continues, with that thought in mind we wanted to get the latest on what life is like in that part of our state and also get perspective on a few other topics as Chris Edwards visits this morning with Buncombe County State Senator Julie Mayfield.

The ongoing remembrance of Jimmy Carter our nations 39th President continues today ahead of a state funeral in our nation's capitol later this week. Currently, Mr. Carter is lying in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta where members of the public are paying their respects, with Chris Edwards to discuss this further is CBS News Correspondent, Jim Krasula.

A South Korea plane crash, an American Airlines flight attendant accused of wearing a "Pro Palestinian" lapel pin, and some winter flying advice. These and more as Chris Edwards has his weekly conversation with Jay Ratliff.

As President-Elect Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in for a second term in the White House, a group called Veterans for Responsible Leadership is speaking out against some of the President-Elect cabinet picks saying they present a threat to national security. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Scott Peoples, who is on the board of Veterans for Responsible Leadership.

The 119th Congress was sworn in Friday on Capitol Hill. That congress will get to work this afternoon as they certify the Presidential Election. One of the newest members of North Carolina's congressional delegation is 13th District Congressman Brad Knott who is joining Chris Edwards from DC.

We are off and running in 2025 and that means folks are all about their resolutions - at least for now - and those resolutions could also include financial resolutions and who better to help Chris Edwards break that down than CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger.

It was quite the weather year in North Carolina in 2024 from storms to extreme heat and lengthy droughts. With Chris Edwards to break down the year that was in the weather is Nick Petro, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

On this New Year's Eve there are a number of ways to ring in the new year with some family friendly events and one of those is tonight in Mount Olive where they will have their annual Pickle Drop. With Chris Edwards to talk about the pickle drop, its history and what makes it so special is Lynn Williams Public Relations Manager for the Mt. Olive Pickle Company.

The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter passed away Sunday at the age of 100 and this week Mr. Carter being remembered for all the work he did while in office but also all of the things he accomplished both at home and abroad post-presidency which includes a Nobel Peace Prize. The former President being remembered fondly be so many including by those who worked with him and one of those people who were closest to the former President was Dennis Schlindwein who was part of President Carter's Secrete Service detail. Dennis now lives in Clayton and recently wrote a book about his time as an agent called Remarkably Unremarkable and Dennis Schlindwein is joining Chris Edwards in studio now.

The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter passed away Sunday at the age of 100 and this week Mr. Carter being remembered for all the work he did while in office but also all of the things he accomplished both at home and abroad post-presidency which includes a Nobel Peace Prize. The former President being remembered fondly be so many including by those in his hometown of Plains, Georgia which is remembering one of their favorite sons. With Chris Edwards to talk about President Carter and his impact on Plains is the mayor of the town Joey Recker.

The 2024 political season in North Carolina was one that no one had experienced in recent memory and now as we look ahead to a new year and new challenges for the incoming administration and a new landscape in the General Assembly. With Chris Edwards to discuss this as well as the passing of former President Jimmy Carter is David McLennan, Meredith College Political Science Professor.

Another passenger boarding a plane without a ticket and multiple major crashes. These story's and more with Chris Edwards weekly conversation with Jay Ratliff.

Former President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday at his home in Georgia at the age of 100. Mr. Carter, perhaps best known for his work post-presidency including a Nobel Peace Prize is being remembered fondly this morning and with Chris Edwards to offer perspective on the life of Jimmy Carter is Peter Mare, Former CBS News White House Correspondent and a Carter Historian.

There is much to recap from this year on the insurance front but also much to reflect on as our friends in Western North Carolina continue to deal with the impacts from Hurricane Helene. With us now to talk about the year that was on the insurance front and to offer perspective on the challenges that western North Carolina still faces is North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

The college football Bowl Season moves along this week with several ACC games on the docket this weekend, additionally the College Football Playoff prepares for quarterfinal action and some shocking news around ACC basketball on Thursday as Miami's Jim Larranaga steps down as the program's head coach. With Chris Edwards to break all of this down is David Glenn from the North Carolina Sports Network.

We are just a few weeks away from Inauguration Day as President-Elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term in the White House. As we inch closer to the transition to the new administration Chris Edwards gets the latest on the transition from CBS News Correspondent Scott MacFarlane.

A full-length movie honoring the 60-year legacy of a Raleigh family and Wil-Mar Golf Club, produced by Jill Hammergren, The Media Pro, gets a second theatrical showing on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Triangle Cinemas and will feature a Q&A with the movie's writer, producer and director. With Chris Edwards in studio to talk more about this film and the history of Wil Mar Golf Club is Fran Wilkerson and Jill Hammergren.

Russia conducted a massive attack on Ukraine on Christmas Day as that ongoing conflict stretches into a third winter meanwhile there is renewed optimism for those American hostages being held by Hamas - Chris Edwards get the latest on this and other topics from CBS News Military Analyst Jeff McCausland.

A passenger faking an injury to board early, American Airlines flights halted, and some advice for holiday travel, this and more with Chris Edwards and Jay Ratliff.

On Monday Luigi Mangione plead not guilty in a New York court to killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson with Chris Edwards to break down that case and a couple of other topics is CBS News Legal Analyst, Thane Rosenbaum.

As we get into these cold winter months, doctors see an increased risk for heart attacks with Chris Edwards now to discuss this and to offer some tips on how to prevent those elevated risks for heart attacks is Duke University cardiologist Dr. Nishant Shah

In their closing act, congress on Friday passed a bill that would avoid a government shutdown and keep the government running through March. With Chris Edwards to break down this deal, recap this congressional session and look ahead to the new year and a new administration is CBS Congressional Correspondent, Scott MacFarlane.

Respiratory illness is common this time of year and with Tony Riggsbee to talk about how we can help prevent seasonal illness is Dr. Ahmad Mourad with Duke Health.

With the US Open having made its appearance in Pinehurst this year, it brought a lot of money into the state and with Tony Riggsbee to talk about the economic impact of the open is Reg Jones, Senior Director of the US Open.

It has been quite the year for farmer's in North Carolina from extreme heat and drought conditions then too much rain and finally in western North Carolina Hurricane Helene's impact is still being felt and will be for decades. With Chris Edwards to recap this year on the farm is Mike Davis of the Southern Farm Network.

This week, we expect to hear more about the potential nominations for the Trump White House as the President-Elect's picks continue to drum up support on the hill. With Chris Edwards to break down the transition is CBS News Political Reporter Libby Cathey.

We often hear how difficult it can be for military veterans to transition to life outside the service but for one group, that’s the number one mission. DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is offering a bootcamp of sorts, that offers support at no cost to help veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses get the tools they need to scale and grow their own businesses. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Dan Clare with DAV.

As we get closer to the holiday season there is one triangle holiday tradition that has stood the test of time. Each Christmas season since 1974 A Christmas Carol, originally written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Ira David Wood III has been preformed each holiday season and was named on of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and has also been cited as one of the most successful shows in North Carolina Theatre History. The show is currently enjoying its final few days of the run this year with their run at the Durham Performing Arts Center starting tonight and going through Sunday. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Ira David Wood.

While we are all looking at next week and all the holiday gatherings we will share together now is the perfect time to start crafting those plans for the New Year and this year, Braswell Family Farms is back again with their 2nd annual New Years Eve Egg Drop. This family-friendly early evening event features music, games, and fireworks. The inaugural event saw over 4,000 attendees and with Chris Edwards to talk about year two is Trey Braswell with Braswell Family Farms