On this week's North Carolina News Roundup...

Early voting for primary elections has begun. An update on the aftermath of “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” And, a check-in from Italy with UNC-Chapel Hill journalism students covering the Winter Olympics.

Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a roundtable of reporters tackle those and other stories from the week.

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC

Laura Leslie, Editor, NC Newsline

Julian Berger, Race & Equity Reporter, WFAE

Corey Davis, journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism & Media

Merrily Tew, journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism & Media

0:01:00

How the transfer of power away from NC’s governor is affecting, “everything from utilities to environmental regulation.” Republicans in the state have sought to take power away from the governor’s office, according to a report by ProPublica. 

Jeff Tiberii speaks with the reporter behind the story and discusses how election oversight is now more firmly in the hands of the legislature.

Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica reporter covering threats to democracy, elections and voting rights.

0:23:36

Public scholar, author and UNC-Chapel Hill associate professor Tressie McMillan Cottom joins Due South to share her thoughts about potential societal shifts and sociopolitical expectations for 2026. 

Tressie McMillan Cottom, public scholar, columnist for The New York Times, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science

A version of this segment originally aired in January 2026. 

0:01:00

North Carolina’s population is growing, but our infrastructure is not keeping up. That’s according to a new report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Leoneda Inge speaks with Bradley George about his work covering the report's release.

Bradley George, AM reporter for WUNC News

0:09:06

In October 1961, the Battleship North Carolina was nudged up the Cape Fear River by tugboats into Wilmington— and was welcomed by many of the people who helped bring her home.  (3225x2350, AR: 1.372340425531915)

Sixty-five years ago, a state-wide effort was undertaken to save a more than 70 million-pound, 700-foot-long behemoth of a WWII warship from being scrapped. 

The USS North Carolina is now a museum in Wilmington, and it would not have made it there without the contributions of thousands of North Carolina children. 

The museum has an effort underway to collect the stories of the “kid heroes” who helped save the ship back in 1961.

This Due South encore conversation originally aired January 13, 2026. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Dr. Jay Martin, Executive Director, Battleship North Carolina

Camille Williams, fundraised as an elementary school student for the 1961 effort

0:25:24

Kat Kinsman’s favorite chain restaurant, and one of Leoneda Inge’s favorites, was a unique spot with a rotating menu of southern staples, including fried okra, congealed salads, and a dizzying number of pies. 

Kat Kinsman, Executive Features Editor at Food & Wine and host of its Tinfoil Swans podcast.

Read Kat's full story "The Last Tray at K&W Cafeteria."

0:01:00

Two longtime political adversaries join co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about how they became friends and why they are still talking politics with each other.

Carter Wrenn is a longtime Republican consultant who worked on, among other campaigns, those of Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. Gary Pearce has worked for decades in NC Democratic politics. He served as press secretary for the recently passed former four-term North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt. While they rarely share the same opinion, Carter Wrenn and Gary Pearce do share a blog -- Talking about Politics.

Carter Wrenn and Gary Pearce, political strategists and writers, Talking About Politics

0:23:27

PlayMakers Repertory Company’s production of “Primary Trust” features a vulnerable, comedic, and heartfelt performance from its star, Nate John Mark. Leoneda Inge chats with him about what it took to bring the story of a shy, grieving and solitary man to life.

Nate John Mark, actor and star of PlayMakers Repertory Company’s production of Eboni Booth’s “Primary Trust”

0:01:00

Conductor and 6th music director of the North Carolina Symphony Carlos Miguel Prieto joins Due South to discuss his life, career, commitment to music education and the 2025-2026 symphony season. 

This Due South encore edition originally aired October 20, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor and music director, North Carolina Symphony

0:08:10

Durham-based jazz vocalist and storyteller Nnenna Freelon has released a new album. Beneath the Skin is the first project in her 40-year career that is comprised of completely original songs. She joins Due South in studio to talk about her experience writing and touring her new work. She also performs select songs from the album.  

This Due South encore edition originally aired May 15, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Nnenna Freelon, Grammy-nominated musician, storyteller and author, accompanied by guitarist Keith Ganz

0:23:25

‘Give the Drummer Some’ celebrates its 13th anniversary at NCCU 

North Carolina Central University recently hosted its 13th annual ‘Give the Drummer Some’ jazz concert. We speak with organizer Thomas Taylor about the annual event, his new book and the work of preserving the genre of jazz at NCCU and beyond.

This Due South encore edition originally aired August 21, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Thomas Taylor, percussion and jazz studies professor at North Carolina Central University

On the North Carolina News Roundup...

The Governor issues an executive order on mental health, a Charlotte native heads to the Super Bowl, developments in the race for a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat, and more with our panel of reporters. 

Plus, WRAL’s Brian Murphy on what’s next for UNC-Chapel Hill’s basketball stadium, the Dean Dome.

Danielle Battaglia, reports on Congress for The News & Observer

Mary Helen Moore, reporter Axios Raleigh

Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief for The News & Observer

Adam Wagner, Editor/Reporter with the NC Newsroom

Brian Murphy, Investigative Sports Reporter for WRAL

0:01:00

College students are pushing back on the State Board of Elections’ decision not to allow early voting polling places on the campuses of North Carolina A&T State University, Western Carolina University, and Elon University.

Lynn Bonner, senior political reporter, NC Newsline

0:13:00

The Winter Olympics kick off this week in Italy. One of the sports on display – snowboarding – has exploded in popularity since it debuted at the 1998 Games in Nagano. WUNC’s podcast The Broadside explores how North Carolina has become a training ground for snowboarding and other snow sports athletes.

Hosted by Anisa Khalifa, and produced by Charlie Shelton-Ormond. More from The Broadside. 

0:33:00

Durham-born-and-raised musician and producer Erick Walls shares stories behind his 2024 Super Bowl performance with Usher ahead of this year’s big game. And Walls talks about what he looks for in a massive, live performance.

Erick Walls, Grammy award winning guitarist, musician, producer and songwriter who performed at the Super Bowl in 2024. Durham-born-and-raised, he’s played with, produced, or recorded with Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and The Dixie Chicks, among many others.

0:01:00

How the college sports transfer portal has upended player recruitment

Duke University recently agreed to a settlement with quarterback Darian Mensah. Duke said Mensah violated his contract, and tried to prevent him from entering the transfer portal before the settlement. This is the latest high-profile incident involving the NCAA portal.

Brian Murphy, WRAL Investigative Sports Reporter

0:13:00

Southern Mixtape: Rissi Palmer’s ‘Perspectives’

Country recording artist Rissi Palmer rings in 2026 with “Perspectives,” a new EP that pays homage to the strength of Black Southern women. She performs songs from her new project and reflects on nearly 20 years of career longevity.

Rissi Palmer, award-winning songwriter, musician and host of “Color Me Country”

One year into President Trump's second term, we hear from David Graham, author of The Project, about how closely Trump followed the Project 2025 playbook, and what he's likely to turn his attention to in 2026.

David Graham, staff writer for The Atlantic; author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America; Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy, DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, Duke University

0:01:00

While South Carolina grapples with a measles outbreak, many in North Carolina are concerned about our own rise in cases — NC has 15 reported measles cases since December 2025.

Amid these rises, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reduced the number of vaccines it recommends. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a pediatrician and medical historian about vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and addressing parents’ confusion and concerns in this moment of conflicting guidance.

Dr. Jeffrey Baker, practicing pediatrician, a Professor of Pediatrics and History, and the Director of the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine

0:27:35

A neuroscience and psychology professor talks about what we know – and what we don’t yet know – about how social media impacts adolescent brain development.

This Due South encore conversation originally aired December 3, 2025.

Eva Telzer, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Co-director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill