What Apple’s investment in the U.S. means for NC 
Apple’s plans for a campus in Research Triangle Park are on hold. But the company just announced projects in other major U.S. cities. Lauren Ohnesorge, Senior reporter and editor at the Triangle Business Journal

Southern News, Southern Politics: How a Newspaper Defined a State for a Century
The Raleigh News and Observer has a complicated and consequential history in North Carolina. The story of the N&O – or the “Nuisance & Disturber” as some called it over the years – is also the story of the family that owned and ran the paper from the late 1800s to the end of the 20th century. And about how the News & Observer didn’t just report on politics, but also shaped politics, for generations of North Carolinians. Rob Christensen, a former political columnist for the News and Observer, talks with Leoneda Inge about his new book, Southern News, Southern Politics: How a Newspaper Defined a State for a Century.
Rob Christensen, former political columnist for the News and Observer in Raleigh, author of Southern News, Southern Politics: How a Newspaper Defined a State for a Century

After a five-year hiatus, Wheels Family Fun Park reopens as Wheels Durham
A longstanding community institution in Durham is set to reopen this week after nearly five years. The former Wheels Family Fun Park, a family-owned-and operated go kart track, mini golf park and skating returns as Wheels Durham, a skating rink owned by the City of Durham. Wheels Family Fun Park opened in 1980 and served the community for nearly 40 years. The community hopes the revitalized space will create memories for new generations of Durham families.
Wade Walcutt, director of Durham Parks and Recreation

The 'Legacies of Lynching' inaugural gathering will convene this weekend in Chapel Hill. Historian Blair LM Kelley and Bettie Murchison, co-chair of the Wake County Community Remembrance Coalition, join Leoneda Inge to dig deep into that legacy — for descendants, for communities, and for our collective understanding of our state's history.

Poet and spoken word performer Nick Courmon also joins the conversation to share the story of his cousin Percy Berry. Berry was lynched in Craven County in 1932. He is one of more than 4,400 Black people killed in racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950 who are remembered at the The National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

Then, Leoneda Inge talks with Jamil Kadoura about the 2023 fire that devastated Mediterranean Deli, his popular eatery with deep roots in the Chapel Hill community. He explains how the business survived since the fire, his plans for re-opening, and how he’s managed to continue providing support for others during this challenging time.

Editor's note: Mediterranean Deli is a financial supporter of WUNC.

Leoneda Inge chats with Kris Nordstrom, senior policy analyst for the North Carolina Justice Center's Education & Law Project. Celeste Headlee speaks with Hannah McClellan, senior reporter for Education NC. CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker chats with Leoneda Inge. 

The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking changes to DEI policies at universities in real time with its "DEI Impact Tracker" and a "DEI Legislation Tracker."

We meet a woman who proudly performs her DEI work with a twist.

And Reveal’s series "40 Acres and a Lie" uncovers the government program that gave formerly enslaved people land titles, only to take the land back. Reveal was recently given a DuPont-Columbia Award for this series.

Guests

Daarel Burnette II, Senior Editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education

James Farrell, Education Reporter for WFAE in Charlotte

Chandra Guinn, Executive Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at McKinney

Alexia Fernandez Campbell, reporter for the Center for Public Integrity

Ruth Wilson, descendent who lives in Wake Forest, NC

This week on the North Carolina News Roundup: Protestors took to Raleigh to voice opposition to President Trump’s executive orders and to efforts to challenge 60,000 ballots in North Carolina's still unsettled State Supreme Court race. An update on Helene recovery efforts, almost five months after the storm ravaged western North Carolina. And, how the state budget surplus, tax cuts, and concerns over dropping off the fiscal cliff are all connected. We’ll get to those stories and more with a panel of reporters who’ve been following our state’s news.

Then, President Trump signed dozens of executive orders on his first day in office. Among them was Executive Order 14163: Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Like so many of Trump’s executive orders, the impacts were felt quickly, including here in North Carolina. Celeste Headlee is joined by two reporters and the leader of a refugee resettlement agency to talk about the impact of Trump's suspension of the United States Refugee Admissions Program on resettlement organization operations and the refugees they support.

NC army base renamed for a new Bragg, but echoes of old Fort Bragg linger
The army base near Fayetteville, N.C. formerly known as Fort Liberty is now Fort Bragg — again. The U.S.’s largest military base is no longer named for slaveowner and Confederate General Braxton Bragg, but rather a different Bragg — Private Roland L. Bragg of Maine who served in WWII. Jay Price, military reporter for WUNC, joins Due South guest host Celeste Headlee to explain the history of these name changes and the strategy the Trump administration used to deliver on a campaign pledge to bring the name Fort Bragg back.
Jay Price, Military Reporter, WUNC

Former UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp on NIH funding cuts and this 'tumultuous moment' in higher ed
We’ve been learning more about the Trump administration’s proposal to cut billions of dollars in funding through the National Institutes of Health. That order is temporarily on hold. But if it proceeds, North Carolina’s universities and research institutions stand to individually lose millions of dollars in federal funding. What would that mean for our universities? What would it mean for future research at these universities? Due South talks with Holden Thorp, former chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill, about the intersection of federal funding and academic research – and the potential impact of these cuts. 
Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief of the Science family of journals and former chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill (2008 – 2013)

In 'Black Defender,' a new superhero emerges 
David Washington grew up fascinated with action stars and superheroes but not many looked like him. In his first graphic novel, the Raleigh-based writer creates a Black superhero who fights for a new generation of underdogs.
David Washington, author of 'Black Defender: The Awakening'

Leoneda Inge talks to Jonathan Harward of Josefs Pharmacy about how tariffs may impact medication prices. Celeste Headlee chats with NC State associate professor Andrew Greenland about the history of tariffs and their potential impact on the state. Maggie Robe of Flyleaf Books looks ahead at some of the most anticipated book releases of Winter/Spring 2025. 

Why North Carolina’s State Supreme Court election is the last race still not decided from the 2024 election.

And, we hear from some of the more than 60,000 voters affected by ballot challenges. Including a woman whose Mother died a few days after voting. 

Plus, Doug Bock Clark, a reporter for ProPublica’s South hub, shares the national legal and electoral implications from this challenge.

Guests

Rusty Jacobs, WUNC's Voting and Election Integrity Reporter

Jen Baddour, is a voter whose ballot has been challenged in the NC State Supreme Court and is participating in a lawsuit with the hopes that her vote will count

Leah Kerr, is the daughter of a woman whose ballot is being challenged. Her Mother died after she voted in November

Doug Bock Clark, is a reporter in ProPublica's South unit

'Our History, Our Voice: Latinés at Duke'
There’s a new exhibit at the Museum of Durham History called Nuestra Historia, Nuestra Voz / Our History, Our Voice: Latinés at Duke. Cecilia Márquez, Duke history professor and author of Making the Latino South, helped put the exhibit together along with some of her students. She joins Due South’s Jeff Tiberii to talk about the history of Latinos at Duke and how that connects to the larger story of Latinés in the South. 
Cecilia Márquez, Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History, Duke University

The Broadside’s “Who gets to be Native in America”
WUNC podcast The Broadside delves deep into “Who gets to be Native in America.”
Sarah Nagem, editor of the Border Belt Independent
John Lowery, Lumbee Tribal Chairman
Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz, author of The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America

What federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe could mean for tribal health care in NC
President Trump made federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe a priority during his campaign and has since directed the Department of the Interior to develop a plan to make it happen. Due South’s Leoneda Inge is joined by pediatrician and his brother, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill public health expert, to talk about what federal recognition (and a lot of federal dollars) could mean, specifically when it comes to health care and reducing health care disparities in Lumbee communities.
Ronny Bell, Professor, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Chair of the North Carolina American Indian Health Board
Joseph Bell, MD, pediatrician and managing partner at Children's Health of Carolina

On the North Carolina News Roundup...

Republican Senator Thom Tillis tries to retain his partisan bona fides while moderating to win reelection in 2026.

North Carolina native Linda McMahon is in the national spotlight this week with her Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education. And former NC Sen. Richard Burr supports Tulsi Gabbard in her confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence.

And Triangle universities and research institutions respond to NIH funding cuts. 

Guest host Celeste Headlee talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South.

Guests

Bryan Anderson, freelance reporter with the Anderson Alerts newsletter

Danielle Battaglia, Washington Correspondent for the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief WUNC

Brian Gordon, Business and Technology reporter for the Raleigh News & Observer