Due South

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The Trump administration wants to do away with a longstanding, little-known rule that doesn't allow for new roads in federal forests. The move could increase the risk of wildfires and harm water sources. The 'roadless rule' is a vestige from the Clinton Administration that could be upended and pave the way for roads through federal forest lands.

Sasha Schroeder, Reporter, NC Local

• NC Local: The Trump administration wants to roll back the Roadless Rule, which protects more than 170,000 acres of public land in NC. Here’s what the change could mean for North Carolinians.

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Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt joins Due South to discuss what she’s been up to lately, a new curated concert series honoring women, and her first album in nearly ten years, “Sugar.”

Tift Merritt, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter

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Atlantic Beach, South Carolina is just four blocks by 10 blocks, but that small footprint belies a big impact and a big legacy as an “African American owned and governed” beach town.

The town, nicknamed "The Black Pearl," works hard to honor its roots. One of the places where that history is on display is the CJSS Skillern Family Art Museum. Jeff Tiberii talks to the founders of the museum about the town’s rich heritage and their efforts to lift up art of the African Diaspora.

Elliot Skillern and Carmelia Scott-Skillern, founders of the CJSS Skillern Family Art Museum

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The Library of NC awards 46 federal grants to public and academic libraries

Leoneda Inge speaks with Catherine Prince, federal programs consultant for the Library of North Carolina, about the history and role of the state library, as well as its allocation of 46 new grants to local public and academic libraries.

Catherine Prince, Library of NC, and our Federal Programs Consultant

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Flyleaf Books shares summer reading recommendations 

Leoneda Inge talks to Flyleaf Books marketing and events manager Maggie Robe about some of this year’s most popular beach and summer reads.

Maggie Robe, marketing and events manager, Flyleaf Books

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Author Amena Brown explains why people should ‘Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl’ 

A new collection of essays by spoken word artist and writer Amena Brown explores the various joyous facets of Black womanhood. Leoneda Inge talks to the author about spending time with her grandmother in North Carolina as a child, celebrating her natural hair and navigating dating and the early days of marriage.

Amena Brown, spoken word artist and author

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

An outgoing North Carolina congressman is censured. Helene recovery and AI are top of mind at the G20 meetings in Asheville and Chapel Hill. A candidate is suspended from a prediction market after placing money on herself. And the latest North Carolina sports news.

Danielle Battaglia, Congressional Impact Reporter, The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer 

Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter, The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter 

Mary Helen Moore, Reporter, Axios Raleigh  

Laura Hackett, Helene Recovery Reporter, Blue Ridge Public Radio  

Josh Sullivan, Social Media Producer and Outdoors Reporter, WUNC News

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Public universities in North Carolina were once required to release the results of sexual assault investigations. But a new provision in state law changed that requirement recently. Advocates for sexual assault survivors say it’s a common-sense change to give survivors more autonomy with their experience. But open records advocates say it’s another barrier for public universities to hide behind when it comes to accountability for public safety on campus.

Skye David, staff attorney, NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Pate McMichael, director, NC Open Government Coalition

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As a new academic year starts, violence prevention advocates are educating students on resources they can use to help them live in a whole new world of the college experience. That means educating on how to deal with friends, professors, and significant others. When some kind of conflict does escalate into violence, sexual or otherwise, these advocates help students navigate the process of seeking justice, healing from their trauma, and finding a way to maintain community on their campuses.

Holly Lovern, director, UNC Office of Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services

Becca Patterson, associate director, Elon University Gender and LGBTQIA Center

Alex Whicker, associate director, Duke University Office of Gender Violence Education and Outreach

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Durham-based union organizer protests via hunger strike

Italo Medelius is a Durham-based former Amazon worker who has been on hunger strike for more than 30 days, to protest poor working conditions in North Carolina and worldwide.

Italo Medelius, former Amazon worker and union organizer

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Country music star Rissi Palmer reflects on the legacy of Dolly Parton

Award-winning country artist Rissi Palmer reflects on the legacy of Southern icon Dolly Parton. Parton’s career spanned more than 65 years and made a profound impact on the lives and careers of countless musicians and fans.

Rissi Palmer, singer, songwriter, musician and host of “Color Me Country”

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Dolly Parton's first record is on display at UNC Chapel Hill

Dolly Parton’s first-ever record, “Puppy Love,” was recorded in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1959. It’s currently on display right here in North Carolina, as part of UNC Chapel Hill’s Wilson Special Collections Library exhibition, “An Alphabet of Treasures, Special Collections from A to Z.”

Steven Weiss, curator, Southern Folklife Collection, UNC Chapel Hill, Wilson Special Collections Library

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NC DMV Commissioner Paul Tine discusses reduced wait times, digital licenses and more

NC DMV Commissioner Paul Tine sits down with Due South to discuss recent and upcoming changes at offices across the state and how new policies have helped to streamline the process for making appointments, keeping wait times low and processing new and renewing applications for IDs, registrations and more.

Paul Tine, Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

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North Carolina's sea turtle population sees spike in hatchings this season

Nearly 2,000 sea turtle nests have been spotted along North Carolina’s coast this year — that's an uptick in birthing activity. Jeff Tiberii talks to Matthew Godfrey, sea turtle biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, about causes for the increase in hatchings this season.

Matthew Godfrey, sea turtle biologist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission

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Historian Bill Link’s new book Jesse Helms: Modern Conservatism and the Politics of Opposition explores the connection between the career and legacy of the late U.S. Senator Jesse Helms and the current political landscape.

William A. Link, historian, author of Jesse Helms: Modern Conservatism and the Politics of Opposition

This interview originally aired June 9, 2026.

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The hit historical podcast, Scene on Radio, is back with its 8th season, “The News.” The series takes a deep dive on the evolution of local and national media landscapes. Due South talks to host and producer John Biewen and co-host Chenjerai Kumanyika about their work on the new season and future of news consumption in America.

John Biewen, creator and host, Scene on Radio

Chenjerai Kumanyika, professor, podcast creator, and co-host, Scene on Radio

This interview originally aired June 9, 2026.

On the North Carolina News Roundup...

New election rules could make rejecting ballots easier in North Carolina, but will they be on pause until after the mid-terms? The new Meta settlement sends hundreds of millions of dollars to North Carolina — what could it mean for our state and our kids? A state senator from the Outer Banks announces an early retirement. And space traveler Christina Koch makes her way back home to the Pack. All that and more on this week's North Carolina News Roundup.

Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer

Danielle Battaglia, Congressional Impact Reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News

Ely Portillo, Executive Editor, WFAE

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NBA star and Durham native welcomes students back to school with 3rd annual backpack giveaway

Trey Murphy III, forward with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans and Durham native, recently hosted his third annual Back to School Community Bash in partnership with Durham Parks and Recreation. Leoneda Inge visited the event and spoke with Murphy and with attendees.

Trey Murphy III, NBA player, Durham native, community organizer

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How Kinston, NC became the NBA’s “Basketball Heaven”

A new documentary explores how Kinston, NC earned an unlikely distinction: it’s the U.S. city that produces more star basketball players than any other in the nation. Leoneda Inge sits down with filmmaker and Kinston native Resita Heavenly Cox to discuss her film, “Basketball Heaven.”

Resita Heavenly Cox, filmmaker

0:33:00

NASA Astronaut and NC native Christina Koch

We're lifting off today with Astronaut Christina Koch – the first woman to travel around the moon. She grew up here, graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Math, then NC State, and today works for NASA. Koch has spent more than 300 days at the International Space Station and completed a successful lunar mission on NASA's Artemis II. Christina Koch talks training, outer space food, and common questions she gets. (This interview originally aired May 6, 2024.)

Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut

College football is back! This weekend, players take to the gridiron to open the season for a sport that is seeing a lot of change. From the transfer portal, NIL agreements for athletes, media rights for conferences, to the potential for Congress to have their say in college athletics; the storylines for this season go beyond the gridiron. 

Demetri Ravanos, columnist, Awful Announcing and podcaster with OG Triangle Media 

Mitch Northam, sports writer for USA Today 

Brian Murphy, sports investigative reporter, WRAL 

Scott Hamilton, host, Back Porch Sports podcast on 107.5 The Game