Good Morning Wake County - Your Daily Dose of Good News

Start your Monday with proof that good things are happening right here! Wake Forest High senior Alejandro Garcia just won a $5,000 Emerging Star Award for leadership and achievement, Downtown Cary Park is hosting a free immersive Peter Rabbit Christmas show in December, GoCary just expanded with two new bus routes (including one to Raleigh), and your pup can get holiday photos with Santa at the Bark Bar. That's the Wake County energy we love.

Stories in this episode:

• https://www.wakeed.org/2025/09/30/wakeed-partnership-announces-2025-recipients-of-its-wake-county/
• https://triangleonthecheap.com/peter-rabbit-christmas/
• https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article312712879.html
• https://triangleonthecheap.com/dog-pictures-santa-downtown-cary-park/

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Tiny NICU patients at UNC Health Rex got the full Halloween treatment with adorable costumes, a Wake County toddler's potty training bribe turned into a forever friendship with an orange tabby named Cheese, Emily Swanson gets recognized as Teacher of the Week at Salem Middle, the Mistletoe Market returns to Wakefield High with 200 vendors, and Glenwood South is adding a ping-pong bar. Starting your day with stories like these isn't just nice - it reminds you that kindness, community, and joy show up in unexpected places.

Stories in this episode:

• https://abc11.com/post/nc-unc-health-rex-nicu-nurses-share-baby-halloween-photos/18088001/
• https://hoodline.com/2025/10/wake-county-family-s-potty-training-bribe-blossoms-into-beloved-pet-adoption-tale/
• https://wral.com/video/teacher-of-the-week-emily-swanson/22220910/
• https://triangleonthecheap.com/mistletoe-market-wakefield-high-school/
• https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/10/30/see-inside-glenwood-souths-new-ping-pong-bar

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Into true crime? Check out TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - I read every message.

A Raleigh institution is coming back—Sunflowers Cafe is reopening with fresh twists after years away, local coffee roastery 321 Coffee just landed major partnerships with Wegmans and Cisco while staying true to its mission of employing people with disabilities, and RDU is adding a daily direct flight to Frankfurt starting spring 2026. Three signs Wake County's doing well and doing good.

Stories in this episode:

• https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/10/28/sunflowers-cafe-raleigh-row-apartments-kane.html
• https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/10/28/321-coffee-wegmans-cisco-retail-sales-roastery.html
• https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/10/28/lufthansa-rdu-frankfurt-germany-flight-daily-2026.html

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Into true crime? Check out TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com—I read every message.

Great way to start your Tuesday! Downtown Cary gets a serious new barbecue spot from pitmaster Jake Wood, the world's biggest soccer tournament just committed to calling Cary home through 2029, the West Regional Library is back after major renovations, and a Wakefield High senior is turning woodcarving into a real business while everyone else worries about AI.

Starting your day with good news isn't just nice - it actually sets the tone for everything that follows. That's why we do this.

Stories in this episode:

• https://raleighmag.com/2025/10/five-outside-nov-2025/
• https://abc11.com/post/soccer-tournament-nc-cary-home-tst-2029-state-kicks-millions-keep-north-carolina/18074439/
• https://abc11.com/post/wake-county-west-regional-library-reopening-renovations/18076628/
• https://wral.com/video/raleigh-high-school-senior-starts-woodcarving-business/22218599/

Want daily good news in your inbox? Sign up free at TapYourNews.com

Into true crime? Check out TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - I read every message.

After nearly 10 months of renovations, West Regional Library welcomes back its 300,000+ annual visitors with upgraded spaces and new features. Plus, a local sophomore tennis player comes back from injury to complete a perfect 30-0 season and win the state championship. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• West Regional Library reopens: https://www.wunc.org/term/news/2025-10-24/wake-county-west-regional-library-set-to-reopen
• Abby Crawford wins state tennis title: https://www.thedigitalcourier.com/archives/state-champ-abby-crawford-wins-tennis-title/article_21cd6d17-6b47-5b14-8b77-d63624b9c00a.html

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Massive trolls built by 500 volunteers from recycled barn wood and bourbon barrels are almost complete at Dix Park, GoTriangle is upgrading Wake Forest bus service starting November 9th, and an 8-year-old dog named Sammie is waiting for his forever couch at the SPCA. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Giant Troll Installation at Dix Park: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article312609275.html
• GoTriangle Route Improvements for Wake Forest: https://www.wakeweekly.com/news/gotriangle-route-changes-will-improve-options-for-wake-forest-riders-5f6282eb
• Sammie - Adoptable Dog at SPCA Wake County: https://wral.com/video/pet-of-the-day-for-october-23-2025/22211294/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Downtown Raleigh drew 155,000 people to a music festival in one weekend, a healthcare company just opened with jobs averaging $205K, and new convention center renderings show what downtown's about to become. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival Record Attendance: https://abc11.com/post/2025-raleigh-wide-open-music-festival-gets-record-breaking-attendance/18059223/
• Weatherby Healthcare Opens North Hills Hub: https://www.wral.com/lifestyle/health/weatherby-healthcare-new-hub-wake-county-october-2025/
• Raleigh Convention Center Expansion Renderings: https://www.wral.com/news/local/raleigh-convention-center-expansion-pics-october-2025/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Wake County approves mountain bike trails at Umstead and construction of Kellam-Wyatt County Park, HGTV's Jason Byrd and Jenny Mahorney build their dream headquarters in Cary, and Toastique gourmet toast cafe opens Saturday in Midtown Raleigh. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Wake County approves trails at Umstead & Kellam-Wyatt Park: https://hoodline.com/2025/10/wake-county-approves-new-trails-at-umstead-greenlights-kellam-wyatt-county-park-development-near-raleigh/
• Behind the Scenes Design builds Cary headquarters: https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2025/10/22/behind-the-scenes-design-cary-office-remodeling.html
• Toastique opens in Midtown Raleigh: https://trianglefoodblog.com/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Mahana Fresh is opening its first North Carolina location in Cary with a grand opening celebration October 25th, and the State Capitol is hosting free Revolutionary War story time for families on November 8th. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mahana Fresh Grand Opening: https://www.parksidetowncommons.com/deal-entries/2025/10/25/mahana-fresh-grand-opening
• Story Time at State Capitol: https://triangleonthecheap.com/story-time-state-capitol/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Two Wake County sisters are among the first U.S. children testing a groundbreaking hearing implant, Lafayette Village transforms into a free Halloween wonderland starting October 26th, Creepy Crabtree returns to Lake Crabtree Park this Friday October 25th, and Bowstring Pizza brings free bluegrass to Tuesday nights. Your daily dose of good news from Wake County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Wake County sisters hearing implant breakthrough: https://abc11.com/post/wake-county-sisters-among-first-us-children-try-new-hearing-implant/18039053/
• Halloween Village at Lafayette Village: https://triangleonthecheap.com/halloween-lafayette-village/
• Creepy Crabtree at Lake Crabtree Park: https://triangleonthecheap.com/creepy-crabtree-celebration/
• Beer & Banjos at Bowstring Pizza: https://triangleonthecheap.com/free-beer-banjos-music-series-raleigh-times-bar/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)