WRAL Daily Download

The murder trial in the death of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth began in Durham Monday. The case has gripped the Triangle for more than a decade. WRAL's Monica Casey and Grace Holland answer some of the biggest questions heading to trial.

Sunday, September 27, marks two years since Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, becoming both the deadliest and most economically destructive storm in state history.

It's also becoming a hot topic on the campaign trail for our US Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley.

WRAL state government reporter Will Doran and WRAL News+ anchor Grace Holland talk through the past two years and how Hurricane Helene and its recovery efforts are playing a role in this November's midterm elections.

Robert Murphy Jr. is now facing dozens of charges tied to possible sexual abuse while working with athletes at NC State. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy speaks with WRAL News+ Anchor Elizabeth Holmes about the new charges, after a judge dismissed a civil lawsuit against Murphy back in 2022. 

President Donald Trump visited Gastonia, NC to back Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Michael Whatley. He discussed violent crime, diesel prices, and more. WRAL's Dan Haggerty was in the room and together with PolitiFact's Paul Specht, we check the facts to determine what's true, false and somewhere in between.

Car payments are getting harder for families to afford as the cost of groceries, housing, insurance, and other bills continue to rise. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur speaks with Ashley Rowe about what families can do get back on track to void delinquency or repossession. 

President Donald Trump spoke in Gastonia to give a boost to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. His comments got a strong response from Governor Josh Stein. WRAL's Will Doran and Grace Holland talk through what it reveals about the President's midterm mindset.

WRAL sports investigate reporter Brian Murphy talks about what he learned from investigators who looked into allegations of drug use, sexual relationships and compliance issues within the UNC football program. Murphy met with lead investigators for over an hour on Thursday, the same day Steve Belichick's resignation was announced.

For today's WRAL Daily Download, we're going back in the vault to a previous episode.

A new Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of certain additives and contaminants in some widely-sold foods and drinks. WRAL 5 On Your Side's Alex Littlehales explains what the findings show.

As WakeMed plans a massive partnership with Atrium Health, major questions remain about the cost of care, charity care and the potential for a $2 billion investment in the Triangle. WakeMed CEO Donald Gintzig sits down with WRAL's Dan Haggerty to discuss the questions coming from patients.

The fall foliage forecast is out for 2026! WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell spoke with a local expert to go over what our leaves will do this year. The heat, along with inconsistent rain over the summer, has put our area in a less-than-favorable position for fall foliage.

What does that mean for the timeline for leaves to change colors? Are there still places in North Carolina where we can see those bright colors pop? Campbell and WRAL's Louis Fernandez spoke through what we can expect.