WRAL Daily Download

More than a thousand troops are in Western North Carolina as the response to Helene makes progress. WRAL's Heidi Kirk joined a group of National Guard members working to get supplies to people in need and shares her first-hand account of the challenging conditions they face.

President Joe Biden flew over the damage in Western North Carolina on Wednesday as 1,000 Fort Liberty soldiers mobilized to help in those counties. WRAL Meteorologist Chris Michaels reports from Avery County on the conditions there.

Food, water and supplies are slowly trickling into Asheville and other communities in Western Carolina. However, some hard hit counties are still without relief with no end in sight. WRAL's Eric Miller talked to people in Henderson and Transylvania Counties about their biggest challenges.

The death toll from Helene continues to climb in Western North Carolina. As clean up and rescue efforts continue, many are still wrapping their heads around the extent of the damage. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher was there as the flooding began and explains his experience trying to cover the storm safely.

Last week, U.S. Senators questioned a major North Carolina employer about the high costs of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. Those drugs used to be covered under the North Carolina State Health Plan until the spring. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie explains how Congress and our state's Treasurer are trying to address the high costs of these drugs.

North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson's legal team launched his promised investigation into allegations in a CNN report that he made lewd and racist comments on a pornographic website more than a decade ago. It's the latest chapter in the biggest story in North Carolina politics with a little over a month left until Election Day. WRAL's Paul Specht explains how we got here.

One in eight high school students in North Carolina use vapes. It's a growing epidemic of nicotine addiction among teenagers. WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance examined the alarming rise of teen vaping across the state.

Part of the largest project in NCDOT history finished this week. Phase 1 of Complete 540 opens to drivers after five years of construction. WRAL's Brett Kneese explains the impact of the highway and the timeline for Phase 2.

On Tuesday, many mail-in ballots are on their way to voters across North Carolina. This week, the state's top elections official addressed a suspicious package sent to the board of elections now part of a federal investigation. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what we know about that incident and covers what you need to know before you head to the polls.

We're getting a closer look at how the old Durham Police Headquarters could transform in the future! The major makeover comes after years of sitting empty and is set to include shopping, affordable housing, and more. WRAL's Destinee Patterson explains.