Raleigh has added roughly 150,000 residents in the last 20 years—but today RPD has essentially the same number of officers it did in 2006. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam unpack the department's 93 vacancies, rising response times and a surprising retention problem that's sending Raleigh-trained officers to neighboring towns. As the city races toward its next quarter-million residents, can its police force keep up?

• Growing Population. Shrinking Police Force
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After a year of anonymous meals, revisits and spirited debates, Raleigh Magazine's 2026 Best Restaurants issue has arrived. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam take listeners behind the scenes of one of the city's most anticipated editorial projects, reveal a few of this year's winners and explain what separates a good restaurant from one worthy of the Best Restaurants list.

• RM’s Best Restaurants 2026 Revealed
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Starting this September, the City is replacing seasonal loose-leaf vacuum collection with enhanced weekly yard waste pickup. Raleigh Solid Waste Services Director Shikha Gupta and Senior Communications Analyst Ellen Mathis join Publisher Gina Stephens to explain why the change is happening—and break down your three new options: bin it, bag it or leave it.

• (Don’t) Just Leave It
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What if $10 could help keep a family from losing its home? Raleigh Magazine’s fourth-annual Give Raleigh campaign is supporting seven local nonprofits working on the front lines of housing insecurity across Wake County—and Pinnacle Financial Partners is matching the first $10,000 raised. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam share the real people behind the statistics, why homelessness isn't always visible and how a small gift can make a surprisingly big difference.

• What $10 Can Do
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It's rant time. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam take a break from the news to air their latest grievances—from blinding LED headlights and reply-all etiquette to Raleigh traffic headaches, windshield wiper fluid and one restaurant trend that needs to end immediately. Consider yourselves warned.

• Taking a Louisville Slugger to LEDs
• Enough With the Noise—Ordinances
• Bars Aren’t for Babies
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Foodie News is back—and Raleigh has given us plenty to discuss. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam catch up on the restaurants, bars and breweries making moves in 2026, from buzzy openings and neighborhood newcomers to surprising closings, major pivots and what they reveal about Raleigh’s evolving dining scene.

• Big Cat on the Prowl in Raleigh
• Nothing Plane about Jane’s
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Raleigh is attracting bigger concert tours than ever—but is the city ready for them? Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam discuss the post-concert chaos surrounding recent Carter-Finley shows, why thousands of fans were left frustrated after Noah Kahan and what needs to happen before the next major act rolls into town.

• “Nightmare Scenario” Plays Out at Carter-Finley Concert
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Whether you're calling a rideshare, hopping on a scooter or just trying to avoid parking, getting around Raleigh isn't as simple—or affordable—as it used to be. Gina Stephens and Melissa Howsam explore what's driving the costs, the challenges riders face and what it means for a growing city.

• Why Raleigh Rideshares Are Surging
• Raleigh’s Revolving Ride Revolution Scoots Out of Reach?
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What should Raleigh look like as it continues to grow? Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam dive into the debate over the city's signage rules—from glowing neon and bold storefronts to the regulations that shape Raleigh's streetscape. Are the rules preserving the city's charm, or are they holding back creativity and local character?

• Curbing Creativity or Keeping It Classy?
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From frozen yogurt and cupcakes to freakshakes and Crumbl cookies, Raleigh has never met a food trend it didn't try. This week, Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam dive into the city's latest obsession: customizable "slop bowls." Are grain-and-greens bowls here to stay—or headed for the same fate as the food fads that came before them?

• Slop Bowls + Other Fads Raleigh Loves to Hate
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