WRAL Daily Download

Former President Donald Trump gave a bleak assessment of the country, called Democrats “arsonists” and repeated lies about the 2020 elections Friday during a rally in Wilmington. Republicans hope the visit brought energy, and that it boosts turnout in crucial North Carolina elections. WRAL reporter Travis Fain breaks down what was said, who was there and what it all means.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is considering a run for governor in 2024. WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson discusses how the Democrat’s record of working with Republicans on a high-profile settlement could help him, and how a recent battle with a fellow Democrat could be used as ammunition against him.

The dreaded “R” word, that’s right, recession. But how is it possible with so much development going on in our area and plentiful jobs? WRAL’s Five on Your Side reporter, Keely Arthur, recently spoke with a dozen economists about whether we are headed for a recession and about why the Triangle may fare better than other areas.

https://www.wral.com/are-we-headed-for-recession-local-economists-weigh-in/20481889/

When an eighth grader took his own life in the bathroom of his middle school in Wendell, devastated and terrified parents started asking: “What can we do to prevent this?” The parents of the boy say he was bullied. The story prompted WRAL’s Dan Haggerty to sit down with parents, young people, and professionals to talk about mental health resources and to answer the question, are we doing enough?

Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC https://www.wral.com/20300051/

https://www.wral.com/dan-haggerty/19985463/

Mothers and babies are dying from pregnancy related complications across the country and in North Carolina. The rates for Black moms and babies are much higher. The US has the worst maternal death rate compared to all wealthy countries. North Carolina ranks among the 10 worst states for infant deaths.

The latest WRAL documentary “Critical Term: Why are Black mothers and babies dying” shines a light on the maternal and infant health crisis. Investigative documentary reporter Cristin Severance and WRAL anchor and reporter Julian Grace set out to understand why this is happening. Julian talks with Cristin about why they chose this topic and the incredible work happening in North Carolina to save moms and babies.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This episode contains a reference to the maternal and infant mortality study Fighting at Birth. The research compares the maternal health outcomes between Black women with doctorates and white women who never finished high school not white women who never went to high school as misstated in the episode. https://socialequity.duke.edu/portfolio-item/fighting-at-birth-eradicating-the-black-white-infant-mortality-gap/

WRAL Education Reporter Emily Walkenhorst joins us to break down a long-simmering plan to tie teacher pay to student achievement. The details are still coming together, but proponents hope to bring it before the NC General Assembly next year. Lots of teachers are nervous.

WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson spent hours with North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson over the course of several months. What Anderson found was a paradoxical lieutenant governor who aspires to higher office and whose beliefs are informed in unexpected ways by his life experiences. Anderson goes in depth on his conversations with Robinson and discusses what’s next for the state’s highest-ranking Republican executive officeholder.

Kane Realty wants to make additions to the skyline in North Hills. The developer has proposed a 40-story high-rise, luxury apartments, and a bus transit. The ambitious plan could generate millions of dollars in tax revenue to the city of Raleigh. Despite the potential gains, the proposition has hit several snags with council members and residents. WRAL reporter Matt Talhelm has followed the pitch and shares what’s holding the project up.

One company has contaminated more than 8,800 wells and the contamination has impacted the drinking water for some North Carolinians. Julian Grace talks with WRAL Climate Reporter Liz McLaughlin about the scope of the problem, how elected officials are addressing it, and how we can hold polluters accountable. Liz also leaves listeners with tips on how they can advocate for cleaner water.

We’ve been hearing about Monkeypox all summer long. But let’s face it, a lot of people have COVID fatigue and have largely ignored this latest health crisis in North Carolina and here in the Triangle. WRAL Reporter Joe Fisher has been a leader in reporting on Monkeypox in the Raleigh-Durham area. His reporting has even prompted health leaders here in Wake County to take action. In this episode Joe shares with us the scope of the problem and how he believes it will play out.