WPTF Morning News

Airlines are facing the biggest travel week of the year, Spain is fining multiple airlines costing them over 180 million dollars, and a Russian jet catching fire after landing. These story's and more as Tony Riggsbee speaks with Jay Ratliff.

It has been an active week on Jones Street as the General Assembly has voted to override the veto of House Bill 10, which is a bill that address the so-called Opportunity Scholarships. Also lawmakers tackled a bill that would take $252 million out of the state's rainy day fund for Hurricane Helene victims. The Senate also took up a bill that take some of the powers away from Governor-Elect Josh Stein, Attorney General-Elect Jeff Jackson and the newly elected Superintendent of Public Schools, Mo Green. Former North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory joined Chris Edwards to discuss the active week in the General Assembly.

There is new data that shows a significant shortage of healthcare workers across North Carolina and now experts are trying to find ways to address the problem to help those in our state who are in need of coverage. With Chris Edwards to discuss more is Andy MacCracken, Director of the North Carolina Center on the Workforce for Health.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards continues to talk to small business owners this morning with Rachel Stewart, Owner Elite Core Studio.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards speaks with Jill Donovan with Donovan's Dish and other local businesses.

The North Carolina Tar Heels coming off an impressive win over Wake Forest last week and hit the road on Saturday up to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. You can hear the game beginning at 10 AM on WPTF and don't forget about Hubert Davis and his #10 Tar Heels in action tomorrow morning at 12:30 AM taking on Hawai'i. With Chris Edwards to break all of this down is the Voice of the Tar Heels, Jones Angell.

As we get into the holiday season there are so many ways to give back to those in need and put a smile on someone's face - that's exactly what our colleague Madison is doing at our sister station 96.1 BBB for the Methodist Home for Children. Madison joins Chris Edwards to talk more about the work she is doing?

A busy week on Jones Street as lawmakers tackled a number of issues this week in the General Assembly, one of them was the veto override of House Bill 10 which now clears the way for $463 million to eliminate the the state's private school voucher wait list but also compels local sheriffs to comply with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. With Chris Edwards to discuss this further is Rachel Brady who has long been a proponent of the Opportunity Scholarships.

Big things are happening in the Bull City as Durham host the 4th annual high school basketball invitational at Hillside High School, highlighting the Triangle's young basketball talent along with teams from across the state and into Virginia. With Chris Edwards to talk more about this is Kaila'Shea Menendez, Director of the Durham Sports Commission and Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, Durham Sports Commission Board of Directors Chair.

There are many organizations that use the month of November to highlight the need for awareness for cancers that impact men's health - you might have heard it call Movember or No-Shave-November or perhaps another catchy name. With Chris Edwards to chat about some of the cancers that are of biggest concern to men is Dr. Dan George with the Duke Cancer Institute.

We are a couple of weeks post election day and a number of incumbents won their bid for reelection, that includes in Raleigh where the City Council will have some familiar faces once again in leadership. With Chris Edwards to talk about what is on the horizon for the City Council following reelection is Jonathan Melton, Raleigh City Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem.

It was a busy day on Jones Street on Tuesday as the General Assembly was back in session taking up a number of items which included the House voting 72-44 to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto on House Bill 10 - that vote now goes to the senate today. With Chris Edwards to discuss that veto override as well as other topics of note from what is happening at the General Assembly is Buncombe County Senator Julie Mayfield.

The race for the North Carolina Supreme Court remains too close to call and as that race between Judge Allison Riggs and Judge Jefferson Griffin continues to play out with a recount expected. With us now to discuss this race and what impacts it will have on the high court is retired North Carolina State Supreme Court Justice, Bob Orr.

The 80th Raleigh Christmas Parade is this Saturday in downtown Raleigh and serves as the unofficial kick-off for the holiday season for many. The parade which is the largest parade between Washington DC and Atlanta is a partnership between the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association and Shop Local Raleigh, and will Atlanta will again light up the faces of so many in the triangle. With Chris Edwards to discuss this more is Jennifer Martin Executive Director of Shop Local Raleigh.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards continues our series this morning with Master Neshat Mirzaei, Co-Owner, Program Director and Instructor at Elite Fire Taekwondo, Inc.

We are three weeks post election day and one race remains too close to call meanwhile from a national perspective, President-Elect Donald Trump continues to nominate individuals for his cabinet. With Chris Edwards to break all of this down is David McLennan.

A Raleigh based non-profit called Made4Me works with families and schools to create personalized adaptations of furniture and accessories for individuals with special medical needs free of charge. With Chris Edwards executive director of Made4Me Mike Gianakos.

News out of college football last night at the Charlotte 49ers parted ways with their head coach Biff Poggi after two seasons as the Charlotte head coach, the team posted a 3-7 record thus far. This comes just days after The Assembly wrote a lengthy piece about Poggi and his program. With Chris Edwards to talk about the program and the dismissal is Carroll Walton a writer at the Assembly.

Countless learning moments happen in classrooms all around the state and place-based learning via field trips offers a hands-on, experiential approach that extends learning beyond the classroom alone. The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund will help ensure students from all regions of the state have the opportunity to engage in memorable educational experiences while cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s rich history, culture, arts, science, and natural resources. With Chris Edwards to talk more in-depth about the Learning Happens Here Fund is Christie Norris, Director of Education for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler was elected to serve another term by the voters in our state during the election three weeks ago. The Commissioner is kind enough to join Chris Edwards this morning to discuss his reelection and biggest action items for his term ahead.

Each year, half a million adults are diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Innovative technologies that could detect more cancers in earlier, more treatable stages, offer new hope to reduce the immense burden of cancer. With Chris Edwards to discuss more is Jody Hoyos, Chief Executive Officer of the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

It is almost Thanksgiving but that's not stopping retailers or anyone else from talking about how much money you're going to spend but what about ways to save money this holiday season? Well Chris Edwards those tips now from CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger.

FrontLine Gardens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing needed gardening resources both equipment based and therapy based to our Nation’s Military Veterans and Law Enforcement Officers injured in the line of duty and/or those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD). Our hope is that our gardens provide physical healing, emotional healing, mental healing, and spiritual healing. With Chris Edwards to talk more about the work they are doing are the founders of the organization, Mike and Stephanie Trost.

On Friday, Visit Raleigh released the Wake County Tourism Industry Report for the third quarter of 2024 and the numbers are encouraging. With Chris Edwards to break down the numbers is Denny Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Two different plane shootings, one in Haiti and the other in Dallas. And an American Airlines flight having to take some extra steps to avoid a mountain. These story's and more as Chris Edwards has his weekly conversation with Jay Ratliff.

As we get into the holiday season we wanted to highlight the work the our local organizations are doing in our communities, this morning Chris Edwards spend time with our friends at Special Olympics of Wake County to hear about all the great things that are going on and with us now is Abbey DeFeo, Wake County Director for Special Olympics.

There is still much to discuss as it relates to the ongoing recovery in Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene but we also want to take a moment to highlight other ways that you can get involved and help our neighbors this holiday season. With Chris Edwards to discuss a number of those topics is Pastor Rocky Branch, Pastor at Spruce Pine First Baptist Church.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are back home inside Kenan Stadium Saturday night for a Big Four Game against Wake Forest with kick-off set for 8 pm, you can listen to our coverage here on WPTF beginning at 6 and with Chris Edwards to break down the game is the Voice of the Tar Heels, Jones Angell.

Chris Edwards talks with Curtis Medias own Bruce Feniger, about his journey to find his parents after being adopted.

One day after the results of the 2024 election season, the outgoing Labor Commissioner, Josh Dobson resigned his post as a member of the Council of State but earlier this week it was announced he has found a new home as the President as the North Carolina Health Care Association. Chris Edwrads all the details this morning from Josh Dobson who is kind enough to join us via telephone.

Scott Mason is a longtime journalist who has spent his career traveling North Carolina for his popular series "The Tar Heel Traveler" which has aired since 2007 is out with a new book titled Tar Heel Traveler: 201 North Carolina Landmarks and Attractions. Scott is kind enough to join Chris Edwards to talk about his work.

As we get into the Holiday Months, we wanted to start to highlight local businesses throughout the triangle and what they are doing for our communities to help encourage you to shop local this holiday season, in particular with Small Business Saturday coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chris Edwards begin our series this morning with Chasta Hamilton, owner of Stage Door Dance in Raleigh.

The 2024 Chinese Lantern Festival gets underway in Cary gets underway tomorrow, an event that has become one of the most popular events in the Triangle. With Chris Edwards to talk more about this years festival is William Lewis, Cary Cultural Arts Manager.

School assignment has been a topic of conversation for decades and that is no different now as parents across Wake County have weighed in to voice their displeasure about their child's school assignment, this as Wake County continues to experience rapid growth. With Chris Edwards to discuss the reassignment process with Susan Pullium, Senior Director for School Reassignment with Wake County Public Schools.

North Carolina will have several new member of the Council of State, which includes a new Treasurer after Brad Briner won the election to replace outgoing State Treasurer Dale Folwell. With Chris Edwards in studio to talk about the transition and his vision for the office is the Treasure-Elect of North Carolina Brad Briner.

It is enrollment season for healthcare coverage in North Carolina and that means many in our state will be signing up for Medicare, perhaps for the first time. That can be a daunting task so we thought it might be a good idea to get some tips to help make that process easier and with Chris Edwards to give you all the things you needed to know is Melinda Munden, Manager for the Senior's Health Insurance Information Program.

Duke Health recently launched a dedicated Lung Nodule Clinic, which leverages advanced imaging capabilities and a dedicated team to identify and treat early-stage lung malignancies. Joining Chris Edwards to talk more about this is Duke University Doctor Jared Christensen.

Just over a week following election day and as the results become final some new faces in leadership across the capitol city as Raleigh elected a new mayor, following the announcement from current Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin that she would not seek reelection. Chris Edwards joins in studio Raleigh Mayor-Elect Janet Cowell.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, NC MedAssist has launched a comprehensive relief effort to meet the urgent medication needs of communities across Western North Carolina. With Chris Edwards to talk more about the work they are doing as well as NC MedAssist as a whole is Chief Program Officer Nicole Stanfield.

We are one week post election and there are a number of national and state-wide aspects to break down following the vote last week. With Chris Edwards to offer perspective on the election and what comes next is North Carolina Senator Tedd Budd.

Yesterday on Veterans Day, President Biden announced his Administration delivered more benefits and health care, more quickly, to more veterans than ever before. In 2024 alone, the Department of Veterans Affairs delivered $187 billion in earned benefits to 6.7 million veterans and survivors, and processed a record 2.51 million disability claims. With Chris Edwards to talk more about this is Terrence Hayes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Congress returns to town today following an extended election recess with a number of items still needing to be addressed in their final weeks together. With Chris Edwards to offer perspective on Congress and also to glance ahead to what congress could look like after the election is Stacy Lynn, CBS News Correspondent.

We are one week post election and there are a number of national and state-wide aspects to break down following the vote last week. With Chris Edwards to offer perspective on a number of topics is Wake Forest University Political Science Professor Dr. John Dinan.

Since the presidential race and the victory of President elect Donald Trump many women have taken to social media to announce they will be taking part in the 4b movement. What is the 4b movement you ask? Chris Edwards is with activist Rachael Blizewski to answer that and other questions about the 4b movement.

Chris Edwards has his weekly conversation with aviation analyst Jay Ratliff about: a man trying to open the emergency door during a flight, American Airlines restricting flight crew's power to remove a passenger, and some fun that WestJet is having.

The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East as well as Russia's continued attack on Ukraine are at top of mind this morning, we get perspective now on those conflicts as well as a thought on Veteran's Day from CBS News Military Analyst, Jeff McCausland.

Jeff Hamlin joins Tom Jenson, with Public Policy Polling to talk about how pre-election polling impacted the election and how accurate the polls were.

The Salvation Army has started their yearly angel tree program at Crabtree Valley Mall. Jeff Hamlin talks about Christine Rogers with the Salivation Army about how you can help participate and help people gets gifts this Christmas they otherwise wouldn't have.

With record breaking early voter turnout in the state many people are surprised to find out overall voter turnout in North Carolina was quite low. Jeff Hamlin talks with independent journalist Bryan Anderson about state wide voter turn out and what caused less voters this election.

Jeff Hamlin is joined by John Dinan, Wake Forest Professor of Politics and International Affairs to talk about the multiple state races that were on the ballot this year and what the future holds for North Carolina.