WPTF Morning News

Our top aviation story's, bees took over an aircraft, and a rise in illegal immigration though airports. Jay Ratliff has more.

Craig Losurdo has been helping disabled veterans in need of different amanitas around their house for over 20 years. They are currently looking for donors and and possibly starting a non-profit to help assist local disabled veterans. Craig speaks with Jon Champion and Chris Edwards about his company and all the work they've done and what their plans are to continue helping out local veterans.

Republican governor candidate Bill Graham has a long conversation with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion about what his goals are in running for office and what he would like to see happen in North Carolina if he were governor.

Most of Wake County is experiencing growth and Morrisville is no exception. They are in the process of improving roads and other infrastructure to accommodate for through traffic going into the town from neighboring cities. Lacking some amidites as their neighboring cities they are in the planning stages of making a proper main street. Mayor TJ Cawley tells us more.

Duke Children's Hospital is been a major player in medical research and is has been one of the best hospitals in the south east for years. Many people support them and help them with fundraising, one of those being, Duke Men's Basketball. Their partnerships has been one of a kind and together they host many events for for the public. Debbie Taylor tells Chris Edwards and Jon Champion the details.

Smithfield North Carolina mayor, Andy Moore, joins the Talk of the Town. They have been experiencing a ton of growth lately, they have been improving infrastructure and adding new housing, and have many events in the works at their community center. He talks more with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion.

January is human trafficking awareness month, and North Carolina is one of the top 10 states for human trafficking. The state has been doing a lot to tackle the issue all over the state. The US eastern District Attorney, Michael Easley has been doing a lot to help train and bring awareness to this issue all over the state and along I-95 in particular. He is also trying to improve economic and drug crimes. He talks with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion.

Recently elected Leonardo Williams has a long list of issues he plans on tackling during his term. He wants to put a heavy focus on community and economic development while improving housing issues they have been having. Leonardo talks about his these goals and more with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion.

The Raleigh Museum of Natural Science has an event coming up all about asteroids and meteorites. Chris Smith with the museum joins the WPTF Morning show to tell us all about it.

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have found that a mutation in skin cancer may be helpful to recover from heart attacks. Here to talk about it is Dr. Nenad Bursac from Duke university.

Mobile sports betting will officially start on March 11th, many people still wonder how this will impact local economies and how will you be able to place bets. There are also concerns about some schools that will need approval before they can participate in betting. Adam gold, Host of the Adam Gold Show on NCNN tells Chris Edwards and Jon Champion everything you need to know.

A big battle yesterday in the republican primary in New Hampshire. Donald Trump managed to squeeze in a win against Nikki Haley. Here to recap it is Michele Woodhouse.

The North Carolina Special Olympics has seen a lot of growth the past few years and are in need of funding due to the growth. Madeline Safrit with the Special Olympics joins Jon Champion and Chris Edwards to talk about a fundraising imitative they have started that involves polar plunges all around the state.

Kennedy and Frank Bowman started Double B Apiary & Farm and are now being told by the town of Wake Forrest that they are no longer allowed to keep and care for their bees. They are trying to get the word out that this is in violation of their rights and state laws regarding Beekeeping. Kennedy and Frank speak more with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion.

Zebulon Mayor Pro Tem, Jessica Daniels Harrison has been appointed to the Chair of the National League of Cities 2024 Council on Youth, Education and Families. She talks with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion about what she plans on doing while on the council.

Raleigh Restaurant week is now underway and continues until this Sunday. This is a great opportunity for people to try out new foods and restaurants, and a great way for local businesses to bring in more customers. Damon Butler joins Jon Champion and Chris Edwards to tell us all about it.

BE LIT has been training teens to be leaders and how to better themselves and creating a safe space for teens. They have been operating as a non-profit trying to teach teens of Franklin and Wake county many skills and life lessons. Founder/director Janaye Smith and Secretary Jarrett Blaize join the WPTF Morning Show to talk about their mission.

More doors are flying off of plans, and not just the 747 anymore. Saturday Night Live has even gotten in on the joke. Jay Ratliff talks to Chris Edwards with an update on all your aviation.

A lot going on in the New Hampshire primary, Governor Ron DeSantis has officially dropped out and endorsed former President Donald Trump. Nikki Haley is still putting up a good fight. To go over these updated, Michele Woodhouse from the Michele Woodhouse show joins Jon Champion and Chris Edwards on the WPTF Morning Show.

Inflation has started to come causing consumers to feel a little better about their spending habits. One worry people are having is the credit card debt that has been accrued over the past year. To give us some tips about credit cards and what we have looking ahead is Jill Schlesinger on the WPTF Morning show

Emily Harris, the Marketing Director for Southeaster Specialty Vehicles, joins the WPTF Morning Show to talk about the emergency vehicle and services company headquartered in Henderson, North Carolina.

Knightdale Mayor, Jessica Day, joins Jon Champion and Chris Edwards on their Talk of the Town segment to discuss the growth and new events that Knightdale has to offer.

Oral care has always been something that you need to prioritize in order to prevent a number of diseases. Joining the WPTF Morning Show to talk about it is Dr. Macon Singletary with North Raleigh Periodontics to shed some light on some common misconceptions, and what you can to do improve your oral health.

Blazin Trails Bottle Babies is a unique organization that specializes in the nursing and caring of puppies. Found, Shana Somer, Speaks with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion to tell us about their mission and what makes them different from other rescues.

Rolesville Mayor Ronnie Currin makes his debut with the WPTF Morning Show and their Talk of the Town segment. Mayor Currin discusses a new plan to to improve roadways around town and a $94 million dollar bond that will be used to provide a library to the town.

North Carolina Central University making some great plays in basketball. The coach of the team LeVelle Moton joins speaks with Chris Edwards and Jon Champion to talk about the ongoing season, and all he has been doing to help bolster communities in southeast Raleigh.

This mornings Talk of the Town. Vivian Jones, mayor of Knightdale , joins the WPTF Morning Show to talk to Chris Edwards and Jon Champion about what's new in Knightdale.

President Biden is visiting Raleigh this afternoon. North Carolina has been a big battleground state during the past two elections and it is looking like it will be again this upcoming election. With the republican party is the NC GOP Chairman Michael Whatley on the WPTF Morning Show.

President Biden is visiting Raleigh this afternoon. North Carolina has been a big battleground state during the past two elections and it is looking like it will be again this upcoming election. Here to talk about it is NC Democratic chair Anderson Clayton.

Johnston county has always has a large agrarian culture and has seen a lot of agro-tourism. Their farmers market and moonshine distillery are especially of interest. Ashby Brame talks to Jon Champion and Chris Edwards about what the town has to offer.

Life Time MIORA program Executive Director Jeff Zwiefel and Author, Pharmacist, Nutritionist and Metabolic Code Founder and Chairman of the Board James "Jim" B. Lavalle talk about Ditch Your Resolution Day, fitness goals, and health.

Playing on a children's playgrounds are a staple childhood memory. Kaboom has been helping build and renovate outdated play stations all around the country to allow more and more children to make some of those core memories. Isaac Castillo joins Chris Edwards on the WPTF morning show to discuss the program and what it takes to build all these playgrounds.

The Iowa Caucus took took place last night and was a huge day for every republican's candidates. to go over what happened is Chris Edwards talks to, professor and political analyst from Meredith college David McLennen.

A lot of issues happening on the national and international level with. as well as the recent events yesterday at the caucus last night. Joining Chris Edwards is Senator Thom Tillis to give his input about these issues and the upcoming election.

The Do it for W Foundation is a wonderful non-profit designed grant scholarships to high schoolers who exhibit strength in academics and athletics. Cindy Hudson started the foundation in 2019 and has helped a number of students around the state. She joins Chris Edwards to talk about their mission.

Durham Tech Community College has been showing some outstanding growth since the Covid-19 Pandemic. They have plans in place to expand the campus to accommodate all these new students wanting to enroll. Joining Chris Edwards to talk about is JB Buxton, the President of Durham Tech Community College, and talks about the future plans for the college.

A lot of changes and divisiveness going on in North Carolina. Deborah Ross joins Chris Edwards to talk about what she thinks we need to do about things such as, redistricting, immigration, and our national debt,

With sports betting coming to North Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes has been searching for someone to to handle the betting on their end, and have decide to partner with Fanatics. Ari Borod is the Chief Business Officer of Fanatics and talks to Chris Edwards about their partnership.

Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht joins Chris Edwards to tell us about what is planned for the tow of Cary, on our new Talk of the Town segment.

Holly springs mayor Sean Mayefskie, joins the WPTF Morning Show for the Talk of the Town, to go over what he has planned for Holly Springs.

Red White Bubbly and Brew is a unique mobile bar that was started to raise money to support a non-profit. Jen Zygmund started her own non-profit called Jen, Incorporated in order to help local people with disabilities and tragedies. She had the amazing idea to start this mobile bar in order to raise money for Jen, INC. She talks all about her inspiration for them with Chris Edwards on the WPTF Morning Show.

Playa Bowls is having their grand opening of a new location in Raleigh on Hillsboro street on the 13th of January. Playa Bowls specializes is serving and creating acai bowls and smoothies. The owner, David Pokorny, joins the WPTF Morning Show and offers some free goodies to the first 50 people.

7 Directions is a Native-American origination that has announced that they will be suing the claim that Buc-ees is being built on native land. Chris Edwards talks to Jason Crazy Bear Campos-Keck who is with 7 Directions about the lawsuit.

Dreamfest is happening this weekend in Cary, North Carolina, the multi day event celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his goals for a peaceful non violent society for all. Jon Champion is joined by Kim Roberts, who is the organizer of Dreamfest, to preview the many events.

The Garner police department is hosting a "polar plunge" next month to raise money for the Special Olympics. Lieutenant Kevan Anderson with the Garner PD tells Chris Edwards all about it.

Today is national milk day, with some insight on the current state of the dairy industry, Mike Davis talks with Chris Edwards.

Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to Charlette today. Political Science professor at Meredith College, David McLennan, joins Chris Edwards on the WPTF Morning Show to talk about that and yesterdays news about Chris Christie dropping out of the Presidential race.

Two of the Biggest rivals in college sports, NC State and UNC play tonight. ESPN's Angel Grey previews the game with Chris Edwards.

Zebulon is the fastest growing community in the triangle, they are predicting a huge growth in population for the decade and are already taking steps steps to meet that growth. Kaleb Harmon represents the Town of Zebulon and speaks to Chris Edwards about what they have planned, and to reveal a new furry member of the police force.

WakeMed has just opened a 23,000 sq foot heathplex in Wendell. This will be a great facility for the whole triangle. Carolyn Knaup, the senior vice president of Strategic Ventures & Ambulatory Operations, talks about what the healthplex will be used for and what is included in its facilities.