NC Capitol Wrap

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits with Gov. Roy Cooper in Raleigh, and two members of North Carolina congressional delegation travel to Ukraine for meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The North Carolina Supreme Court keeps busy with cases on charter schools, voter fraud and alleged racism in local government. Plus the latest updates from EPA Secretary Michael Regan's trip to Fayetteville to talk PFAS, and what NC House Speaker Tim Moore had to say about budget priorities as the legislature prepares to return to session.

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran discuss a surge in teacher turnover in North Carolina public schools, and the end of coverage of weight-loss drugs by the State Health Plan. Plus, diversity, equity and inclusion in the UNC system could be in lawmakers' crosshairs this session. 

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran talk about the terror watchlist suspect whose North Carolina arrest could turn into a referendum on immigration policy, plus the growing national attention on comments made by 2024 candidates Mark Robinson and Michele Morrow. They also discuss updates on the recount and election protests still delaying official results in a closely contested state legislative race.

Donald Trump leads Joe Biden in North Carolina their potential 2024 rematch for president, a new WRAL News poll found. But Republicans don't have the same lead in the race for governor, pitting Democratic nominee for governor Josh Stein against Republican nominee Mark Robinson. In a close primary for a state legislative seat, the Democratic incumbent who appears to have lost is now alleging political shenanigans and "irregularities" may be cause for further investigation. Michele Morrow is making national headlines. And while some of the closest primaries are going to runoffs to pick a winner, one won't: Trump hired Mark Walker to work on his presidential campaign, so that he'd drop his opportunity for a runoff against Trump-endorsed candidate Addison McDowell.

In Season 3 of A Brief History of Triangle Sports, Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan explore the history of sports betting in North Carolina. Mobile sports betting is legal today but getting to this point wasn’t easy. Brian and Tim cover the legislative twists and turns on the road to legal sports gambling and how NC’s “new normal” will change sports and sports fans going forward. 

All four episodes are available now. Find Season 3 of A Brief History of Triangle Sports in this podcast app. 

The week's primary elections brought a spate of upsets by populist conservatives, and that's got the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce concerned. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Will Doran look at the biggest surprises and their potential repercussions in November.

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy bring you a roundup of the week's crazy election stories, the go-live date for sports betting sites in North Carolina, and a rough week on Jones Street for a couple of Cooper administration leaders.

Dark money seeps into North Carolina primary races from some unexpected places. The decades-old Leandro public education lawsuit is back in court. And state historians unveil research into the enslaved people who built the state capitol building. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran break down the week in North Carolina politics. 

President Joe Biden came to Raleigh to talk broadband internet investments and "Bidenomics" before grabbing a milkshake with Gov. Roy Cooper. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran discuss how it foreshadows the messaging we'll be seeing from both sides in the 2024 presidential campaign. The GOP primaries for two wide-open congressional seats are also heating up. Plus, insurance companies are asking for a big hike to homeowners rates, and people are not happy. Could it impact the elections?

On this week's episode of The Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran have the latest on the multiple lawsuits against the state's new voting maps. Plus: Lawmakers' latest attempts to rein in the power of HOAs, and a look at who's campaigning in North Carolina this week.