WRAL Daily Download

Moore v. Harper — a North Carolina case that emerged from the state’s recent redistricting process — heads to the U.S. Supreme Court for arguments Wednesday. Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, explains why state GOP leaders brought the case to the nation’s highest court. Bob Phillips of Common Cause North Carolina breaks down why his group opposes the GOP’s efforts, and what he thinks the outcome could mean for elections across the country. We also hear from WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson about the volume of outside groups weighing in on the case.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a high-profile case that started here in North Carolina. At its core, it’s focused on voting districts in the state. But legal experts say the court’s ruling could have a broad impact across the country on everything from how elections are run to checks and balances in state governments. The case is Harper v. Moore. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain provides an overview of the case.

On October 13, 5 people were killed and 2 others were injured during a mass shooting near a Raleigh greenway. About an hour and a half after the first 911 call, authorities cornered the 15-year-old suspect in a barn. They exchanged gunfire with him during a standoff which lasted 3 hours. Police videos of that encounter were just released. WRAL digital writer, Ryan Bisesi, joins us in this episode to explain what they show.

https://www.wral.com/Raleigh-mass-hedingham-shooting/20521687/

Anyone with a child in college or a child who is on the way to college knows that that cost of higher education has gone up dramatically. The WRAL Investigates team, reporter Cullen Browder and producer Randall Kerr, took a look at how this trend is affecting public institutions of higher learning in North Carolina. In this episode, Randall walks us through what they found and what it means for students who want to go to college, but don’t think they can afford it.

Shootings, including mass shootings, are becoming so common that many of us are numb to them, chalking them up as just one more tragedy that we can’t prevent. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in these incidents happening in popular stores and around shopping areas. This is making many people uneasy as we head into one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. Security expert James Demeo breaks down some of the recent incidents and talks about how communities can regain a sense of safety.

https://www.wral.com/raleigh-police-investigating-shooting-at-north-hills/20601422/

https://www.wral.com/one-person-hospitalized-after-black-friday-shooting-inside-walmart-in-lumberton/20597454/

https://www.wral.com/lumberton-police-ask-for-public-s-help-finding-walmart-shooting-suspect/20602395/

https://www.wral.com/walmart-shooter-left-death-note-bought-gun-day-of-killing/20596904/

Vehicle thefts are up, and data from the Raleigh Police Department shows where those thefts are reported. It might not be where you think, so lock your car doors! Plus: A bit on how we use data, every day, to make news bubble up from the information that surrounds us.

North Carolina elected an evenly split congressional delegation this month, sending seven Democrats and seven Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. That balance is expected to change after state legislators draw new congressional voting districts. WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson explains which districts could flip in favor of Republicans in the 2024 elections.

On the WRAL Daily Download this week, a special podcast companion series to the WRAL-TV documentary "Durham Under Fire." In this final episode, WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance talks with Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal, Council Member Mark-Anthony Middleton, District Attorney Satana Deberry, and former sheriff Mike Andrews. They explore the impact gun violence in a city that is described as both “ascendant” and “violent” -- and share their ideas on how the Bull City can rise … for all.

On the WRAL Daily Download this week, a special podcast companion series to the WRAL-TV documentary "Durham Under Fire." As Durham grapples with increased gun violence, WRAL Investigative Reporter and Documentary Producer Cristin Severance rides along on patrol with two Durham police officers who grew up there. With candor, they describe how shootings in Durham have impacted them personally, why they’re so committed to their work, and how they try to disrupt cycles of violence. This is the second episode of the companion series to the WRAL-TV documentary “Durham Under Fire.” An additional episode called "Kids in The Crossfire," featuring families impacted by gun violence, can be found in the WRAL Doc Podcast feed. Watch the full documentary at WRALDocumentary.com and on WRAL’s YouTube page, where you can check out more documentaries from WRAL’s award-winning team.

On the WRAL Daily Download this week, we introduce a special podcast companion series to the WRAL-TV documentary "Durham Under Fire." Last spring, WRAL Investigative Reporter and Documentary Producer Cristin Severance rode along in a patrol car with Durham, NC’s Chief of Police Patrice Andrews. While discussing the immense pressures facing the Durham Police Department, a “shots fired” report comes over the patrol car radio. Follow the chief on the intense ride to the crime scene, and find out why she’s frustrated by gun violence in Durham, but not deterred. This is the first episode of the companion series, and subsequent episodes feature families impacted by gun crime, community activists, police officers, and city leaders grappling with how to address the violence as well as the underlying issues contributing to the devastation. Watch the full documentary at WRALDocumentary.com and on WRAL’s YouTube page, where you can check out more documentaries from WRAL’s award-winning team.