WPTF Afternoon News

A staple of the Raleigh skyline since the 1960s is getting new life. The old circular Holiday Inn is getting ready to welcome guests back for the first time in over a year, rebranded as a Hotel Indigo. Carlos Faz, General Manager of the Hotel Indigo Raleigh, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss a new life for the hotel.

It has now been 37 years since Hurricane Hugo devastated much of the coast of South Carolina. Hugo was a Category 4 hurricane with estimated sustained winds up to 140 mph when it came inland during the early morning hours of Sept. 22, 1989, near McClellanville, S.C. Hurricane historian Jay Barnes joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss memories of Hugo.

Taiwanese students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are calling for more transparency from university leaders after what they describe as a racially motivated harassment incident on campus in late August. Yu-Chao Huang, the President of the Taiwanese Student Association at UNC-Chapel Hill, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss what happened.

Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have each visited North Carolina over the past week to campaign for Michael Whatley. Currently, Whatley is trailing former Governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. With Trump’s poll numbers mired in record low numbers, will his presence help Whatley? Jeff Hamlin joined Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling to discuss the possibility of a Blue Wave in November.

Some North Carolina lawmakers are pushing to shorten the state's mandatory separation period for divorce, arguing the current law places financial and emotional burdens on people seeking to end their marriages. Senator Woodson Bradley has introduced Senate Bill 626. Bradley joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the intent behind the measure.

Parts of the North Carolina coast are preparing for some rough weather this week. According to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, “potentially hazardous conditions” are expected starting Tuesday through Friday as “a strengthening offshore low-pressure system is expected to impact the Outer Banks.” Sam Walker, a Reporter for OBX News, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the conditions.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is again among the nation's leaders in higher education, ranking in the top five public universities in the country in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings for the 25th consecutive year. LaMont Jones from U.S. News and World Report joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the rankings.

Phil Spence, a member of N.C. State's 1974 National Championship team, has passed away. Born in Raleigh, Spence played at Broughton High School, where he guided the Capitals to the 1971 4A State Championship. He transferred to N.C. State as a sophomore. He became a starter in his junior and senior seasons, averaging eleven points and eight rebounds per game. Tim Peeler, an N.C. State sports historian, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the life of Phil Spence.

Nestled in a forest just north of Charlotte is a storybook village that invites time traveling guests into a realm where history meets fantasy. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is back for a 32nd season of medieval marvels spanning eight festive weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, October 4th through November 23rd. Matt Siegel from the Carolina Renaissance Festival joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the event.

Passengers traveling between Raleigh and Charlotte will soon have an easier way to connect to public transit at stops along North Carolina's intercity passenger rail route. Jason Orthner, Director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the new Rail & Ride Pass.