Due South

By Jeff Tiberii, Leoneda IngeNews

Due South episodes

August 11 Attorney General Jeff Jackson on being NC's 'top cop.' New documentary on the lives and legacies of two trans teens
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Part One: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson
Jeff Jackson has been the state's so-called Top Cop, in statewide office for more than eighteen months now. A former prosecutor, four-term state senator, and member of Congress, Jackson, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, is North Carolina's 51st Attorney General.
His tasks are far-reaching, from oversight of data centers to elections to anti-trust law. Jackson is working with states attorneys general across the country, challenging the federal government, and pursuing, on occasion, bipartisan solutions.
Jeff Jackson, North Carolina attorney general
0:29:17
Part Two: At Durham’s OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, a documentary about North Carolina’s first openly trans homecoming king
The OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival begins in downtown Durham this week. One of the films is a documentary about the lives, deaths, and legacies of two trans teenagers — Kyler Prescott and Blake Brockington, who became the first openly trans person to win homecoming king in North Carolina.
Their stories of trans boyhood are intertwined with experiences of co-directors Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos, both trans suicide attempt survivors. The directors join Leoneda Inge in a conversation about their film, “What Will I Become?”
Lexie Bean, co-director of documentary film What Will I Become?
Logan Rozos, co-director of documentary film What Will I Become?

51 min
August 10 Triangle communities still rebuilding a year after Chantal. The Broadside's ‘Secrets of the Great Dismal Swamp.’
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Some communities still rebuilding, a year after Chantal flooding hit Chapel Hill
When Tropical Storm "Chantal" hit Chapel Hill, Carrboro and surrounding communities on July 5, 2025, no one could have imagined the impact of the flood and how long it would take to recover — especially residents who were caught in the storm's dangerous conditions. We check in on communities and businesses a year later. (This interview originally aired on July 23, 2026.)
Brighton McConnell, News Director, 97.9 The Hill WCHL & Chapelboro.com
0:13:00
The Broadside: ‘Secrets of the Great Dismal Swamp’
For centuries, the Great Dismal Swamp on the border of North Carolina and Virginia served as a sanctuary for escaped slaves known as maroons. Today, the same harsh conditions that shielded those self-emancipated people from slavery make it difficult for historians and archeologists to understand the extent of their settlements. But that secret world is slowly being uncovered.
Dan Sayers, archaeologist, anthropologist and professor at American University
Marcus Nevius, author of City of Refuge and history professor at the University of Missouri
Eric Sheppard, tour guide in the Great Dismal Swamp
0:33:00
‘North Carolina Rabbit Hole’ writer digs deep into the history of NC’s ABC stores
North Carolina is one of more than a dozen states where the government controls liquor sales. Writer Jeremy Markovich runs the newsletter and website “North Carolina Rabbit Hole,” and wrote a post titled: “The first ABC store opened 90 years ago. Why does North Carolina still have them?” He talks with Leoneda Inge about the history of liquor regulation in North Carolina and what it tells us about our state. (This interview originally aired on July 29, 2025.)
Jeremy Markovich, writer, North Carolina Rabbit Hole
51 min
August 07 NC News Roundup: Rep. Chuck Edwards drops reelection campaign; NC hemp regulations go nowhere for now
This week on the North Carolina News Roundup...
Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards drops his reelection campaign after a House Ethics Committee recommended censure over harassment allegations. The NC House stops development for a liquor warehouse after a planning dispute goes public. And a hemp bill is paused as protesters call for different regulations. Meanwhile, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourns until November.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis on those and other stories from the week.
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer
Danielle Battaglia, congressional impact reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer
Felicia Sonmez, Reporter for BPR-Blue Ridge Public Radio
Dan Kane, The News & Observer
51 min
August 06 NC job market update: unemployment rates remain low, creating challenges for job seekers and recent grads
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Unemployment rates remain low in NC, creating challenges for job seekers and recent graduates
Increasing inflation, AI in the workplace, and low confidence in the job market. Due South talks with economists to see what is going right in North Carolina’s economy and what to keep an eye on. Plus, updates on tech changes and layoffs.
Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at NC State University and writer of “You Decide” newsletter
Brian Gordon, Business and Technology reporter for the News and Observer
Andrew Berger-Gross, senior economist for the North Carolina Department of Commerce
0:33:00
NC Innovation funding research and invention
The Triangle remains one of the fastest growing metro regions in the US, with auxiliary homes for Novo Nordisk, Amazon, and Meta - among other notables. What will our state's labor force and economy center around half a century from now? The next chapter in growth, ingenuity, and creation may very well include NC Innovation.
Michelle Bolas, President and CEO of NCInnovation
51 min
August 05 Concerns about political violence this midterm election season. Plus, educating voters on election integrity
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Gauging the public’s attitudes toward political violence
As we head into the 2026 midterm election season, many North Carolinians are concerned about the threat of political violence. Polling shows that voters expect some kind of political violence to occur before November. Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the phenomenon and the public’s attitudes toward political violence.
Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College in Salisbury; director of the Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service
Dr. Irwin Morris, Distinguished Professor of Humanities and the Executive Director of the School for Public and International Affairs, North Carolina State University
Dr. David Schanzer, professor of Public Policy at the Sanford School at Duke University

0:33:00
Educating voters on election integrity ahead of 2026 midterms
Nonpartisan groups are educating voters on the security and integrity of elections in North Carolina, emphasizing checks and balances, and trying to get ahead of misinformation and harsh rhetoric to keep the political temperature down.
Deanna Ballard, senior advisor, Keep Our Republic
Jennifer Roberts, senior advisor, North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe, and Secure Elections and The Carter Center
51 min
August 04 Bestselling novelist Tayari Jones talks 'Kin.' And before the Declaration of Independence was NC’s Halifax Resolves
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Bestselling Southern novelist Tayari Jones talks with Leoneda Inge at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill
One book, and one author, who has again made an impact on the literary world in 2026 is "Kin" - by Tayari Jones. "Kin" has gotten a lot of attention – it was an "Oprah's Book Club" selection, a New York Times Book Club choice, and Due South got the chance to dig deep into what makes Tayari Jones tick. Leoneda Inge speaks with Jones in front of a live audience at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill.
Tayari Jones, professor of English and creative writing at Emory University and author of the new novel, ‘Kin’

0:33:00
Before the Declaration of Independence was NC’s Halifax Resolves
The 250th birthday celebration of our nation has revolved around the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But here in North Carolina there’s another day from that year that may be just as important. On April 12, 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to formally call for independence from Great Britain. The call for freedom came to be known as “The Halifax Resolves” and had a big impact on both North Carolina and American history.
Carl Burke, Historic Site Manager, Historic Halifax
51 min
August 03The do's and don'ts of recycling in the Triangle. Plus, the history of Black family reunions in the South
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The do's and don'ts of municipal recycling
Recycling has been around a long time and faces relatively little pushback compared to more politically-charged sustainability efforts. Still, recycling has its obstacles, including that it can be hard to know what's recyclable and what's not. As Bianca Howard of Wake County Solid Waste Management Division says, "there is nothing intuitive about recycling." Today on Due South, three waste management experts demystify municipal recycling. (This interview originally aired on April 21, 2026)
Bianca Howard, Outreach & Marketing Supervisor, Wake County Solid Waste Management Division
Muriel Williman, Senior Assistant Solid Waste Manager, City of Durham Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
Shauna Taylor, customer service representative, Shimar Recycling
Related: Recycling guidelines for Durham, Orange County and Wake County

0:33:00
The history and legacy of the Black family reunion
Ernie Suggs of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has long thought about the importance of family reunions for Black families. He found multiple studies suggesting African Americans are more likely than any other group to hold large family reunions on a regular basis. Suggs’ article What Remains: The Power of Black Family Reunions delves into the origins and the role of these gatherings today. (A version of this interview originally aired August 12, 2025)
Ernie Suggs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
51 min
July 31 NC News Roundup: Tillis forces delay on Blanche nomination; updates on WakeMed merger with Atrium
Sen. Thom Tillis continues to hold out support for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. How a Supreme Court ruling could help Michael Whatley in the Senate race. The North Carolina legislature debates changes to the new state budget. And updates on the WakeMed merger with Atrium.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis on those and other stories from the week.
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer
Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh
Zac Ezzone, healthcare and higher education reporter for Triangle Business Journal
Reuben Jones, Washington reporter covering North Carolina, Spectrum News
51 min
July 30The Army private in NC who said 'no' to moving seats before Rosa Parks. Raleigh's resident bald eagle family
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The Black Army private who wouldn’t move to the back of the bus
Sarah Keys Evans became an unwitting Civil Rights activist when she refused to give up her seat for a white Marine. She was on a bus that had crossed state lines into North Carolina, where in 1952, she was told to move to the back of the bus.
In recent years, her story has become better known, partly thanks to a new book she co-wrote with author Amy Nathan. (This Due South conversation first aired May 27, 2026.)
You can watch and listen to Sarah Keys Evans speaking with PBS NC for an oral history.
Amy Nathan, co-author with Sarah Keys Evans of Riding into History: The Surprising Story of Sarah Keys Evans and the Fight to Desegregate Bus Travel
Ervin Griffin, one of the Roanoke Rapids educators who installed a monument honoring Sarah Keys Evans, president Emeritus of Halifax Community College
Ophelia Gould-Faison, leader of the Sarah Keys Evans Public Art Project in Roanoke Rapids

0:33:00
Raleigh’s resident bald eagle family
Raleigh’s lush greenspaces have always been a home to towering oak trees, but now feathered neighbors are taking the spotlight. In recent weeks, birdwatchers have flown to Shelley Lake Park in Raleigh to witness the newest member of a bald eagle family. (This Due South conversation first aired May 27, 2026.)
Sean Gough, Land Stewardship Program Manager for the City of Raleigh
Sydney Merrell, Invasive Species Program Assistant Coordinator for the City of Raleigh
51 min
July 29 NC's hot and humid summers: health impacts of the heat, who is most vulnerable, and potential remedies
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The health impacts of heat
These days it feels like there is no simple way to beat the heat. And our new climate reality means we need to take new and more serious precautions to protect ourselves and our neighbors from its health impacts. Dr. Lauren E. Siewny joins Leoneda Inge to talk about concerning signs to look out for and how to best handle this steamy summer weather that just won’t let up.
Dr. Lauren Siewny, Medical Director of the Duke University Hospital Emergency Department, and an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

0:13:00
How heat impacts all of us, and who is most vulnerable
Heat impacts us all, especially during these dog days – and nights – of summer. But some people are impacted more than others due to circumstances including outdoor work, chronic illness, or living in a neighborhood more prone to the impacts of extreme heat. Two environment researchers talk to Jeff Tiberii about the heat challenges facing both urban and rural regions, tips for navigating the heat when running the AC at full blast isn’t an option, and about community-driven approaches to help protect us all.
Angel Hsu, Director, Data-Driven EnviroLab; and Associate Professor of Public Policy and Environment, Ecology and Energy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ashley Ward, Director, Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
51 min

About Due South

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“Due South” is WUNC News’ weekday current affairs radio program and podcast. Broadcast from the American Tobacco Historic District in downtown Durham, co-hosts Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii put…