WPTF Afternoon News

The Stanley Cup Finals are less than 24 hours as the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to face the Vegas Golden Knights. The Canes are the first team in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Finals with a 12-1 playoff record. The matchup against Vegas is a study of contrasts. Carolina's Rod Brind'Amour is the third-longest tenured coach in the NHL in his eighth season. The Knights hired coach John Tortorella on May 29 after firing Bruce Cassidy. Mike Solarte has watched the growth of the Hurricanes since they arrived to North Carolina in 1997. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The White Oak Foundation is set to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly completed White Oak Foundation Townhomes—a milestone project bringing 30 new homes to Apex, including 15 affordable housing units. The Reverend Charles Tyner, the Executive Director of White Oak Foundation Townhomes, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the ceremony.

Summer is quickly approaching, and the pleasant weather means more people outdoors and a higher chance for crashes, boat accidents and other injuries. The American Red Cross said there is a greater need for blood in the warmer months, but there’s a drop in donations available. Ellen Gorham, the Executive Director of the Greater Triangle area chapter of the American Red Cross, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the need for blood and platelet.

It’s a special time for Carolina Hurricanes superfan Jacob Emmons of Mebane. He was only three years old when the Canes raised the Stanley Cup in 2006. Now, he has a chance to watch the Canes raise the cup again when the Stanley Cup Finals begin on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Emmons joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the shrine of Canes memorabilia he has at his home.

It’s a new chapter of baseball at Five County Stadium. The Zebulon Devil Dogz are set to make its debut in the Coastal Plain League this week. The Devil Dogz replace the Carolina Mudcats, who played at Five County for 35 years before moving to Wilson last winter. Caleb Whittlemore, the General Manager of the Devil Dogz, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new team in Zebulon

For 40 years, Threshold has quietly operated as one of Durham's most impactful, and least known, community resources, offering adults living with severe mental illness a place to work, learn and belong. Elizabeth Barber, the Executive Director with Threshold, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss Threshold and the services it provides.

A partnership between GoTriangle and public relations students at North Carolina State University are credited with increasing awareness and ridership on several Triangle transit routes this spring. The collaboration involved 24 students in Assistant Professor Dr. Kalyca Becktel's Public Relations Campaign class during the Spring 2026 semester. Matt Lail, Public Relations Manager for GoTriangle, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the campaign.

Governor Josh Stein signed an Executive Order Wednesday that prohibits state employees from using information obtained through their official roles to trade in prediction markets which allow users to buy and sell contracts based on the outcome of future events. Scott Peeler, an attorney and adjunct professor at the UNC School of Law, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what the executive order is targeting.

Your next flight could be impacted by an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration is now looking for video gamers to help fill the gap. In its latest recruitment campaign, the FAA is looking to attract gamers to join the control tower. John Borchert, UNC Greensboro Director of eSports, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss how eSports is creating a new group of air traffic controllers.

The Korn Ferry Golf Tour is back at the Raleigh Country Club. The UNC Health Championship will tip off on Thursday. Slated for the field is former UNC Tar Heel Austin Hitt, former Duke Blue Devil Ryan Blaum and Gastonia-native Taylor Dickson. Brian Krusoe, the Tournament Director of the UNC Health Championship, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss this year’s UNC Health Championship