WPTF Afternoon News

In 2000, Graham High School had a state championship football team. This fall, the Red Devils won’t field a Varsity football team because of low participation numbers. Several high school athletic directors recently submitted a co-op model as a temporary solution to the growing problem of low participation numbers in more sports than just football. Nick Stevens, the founder of Varsity NC, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the idea.

The Raleigh City Council is expected to vote on a proposed teen curfew September 15. Police say the curfew would improve safety, while opponents say there have been no similar teen takeovers since the July Fourth weekend. Dawn Blagrove is against the curfew. She joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss her opposition

Domestic and international visitors to Durham County spent $1.17 billion in 2025, up from $1.16 billion in 2024. Visitors also contributed more than $82 million in state and local tax revenue that same year. Cara Rousseau, Discover Durham President and CEO, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the record-setting year.

A car accident can be stressful enough, but what happens when your insurance company suddenly tells you your damaged vehicle is a total loss, and the settlement they offer isn’t enough to replace it?

Jon Champion talks with Sean Preston, Managing Attorney at Coverall Law, about what drivers need to know when an insurance company declares their vehicle a total loss, how those valuations are determined, and what consumers can do if they believe they’re being offered less than their car is worth.

As families prepare for the new school year, experts say budgeting, comparison shopping and avoiding impulse purchases can help reduce back-to-school expenses. Saige Heigel, with the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss tips to purchase school items online without compromising your personal information.

Bill Rasmussen, the man who was the co-founder of ESPN, has passed away. Rasmussen and his son Scott came up with the idea of a network carrying sports around the clock, and it would revolutionize Americans’ TV-watching habits. ESPN debuted in 1979. Charie Tuggle, from the UNC School of Journalism, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the legacy of Rasmussen.

Twenty years ago on Tuesday, Samuel Flippen was the last person killed under North Carolina’s death penalty. He was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s daughter. Since then, advocates have been pushing for the punishment to be formally abolished. Noel Nickle, from the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the anniversary.

Moore County Commissioners faced a packed meeting on Monday night over public concerns dealing with the use of automatic license plate readers. The meeting abruptly ended on after tensions rose between people concerned about privacy and law enforcement officials defending the cameras as a tool for solving crimes. Mark Williams, Founder of Deflock ILM, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss his stance against the cameras.

Governor Josh Stein has vetoed a bill that changes election rules for the mid-term election which is less than three months away. During an event at the Governor's Mansion, Stein said the changes would make it harder to vote. Anderson Clayton, the Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the veto.

Raleigh native Jada B. Smith is the 2026-2027 Stage Management Fellow for Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. CTC is the Tony Award-winning flagship theatre for multigenerational audiences in North America. Smith joined Gayle Hurd to discuss her role in CTC and her start in Raleigh.