WRAL Daily Download

WRAL’s 5 on Your Side tested multiple electric vehicles to see how they drive, whether they are more efficient than gasoline-fueled cars, and whether there are enough charging stations to support them in North Carolina. Producer Pritchard Strong walks us through what they found in this episode. You may be surprised by the pros and cons of going electric.

North Carolina lawmakers are poised to potentially override the governor’s veto of a bill that would restrict abortion to twelve weeks. On the eve of the possible override which is expected to fall down party lines, several hundred businesses have come out against the bill, saying it’s bad for the economy. And this isn’t the first time business owners have spoken out against controversial legislation as a deterrent to economic growth. WRAL reporter Matt Talhelm explains. 

https://www.wral.com/story/more-than-200-nc-businesses-rally-to-protest-abortion-restrictions-bill/20861565/

North Carolaina's state government is having an extremely difficult time keeping employees and filling job vacancies, leading to a debate over pay increases for state workers. The battle enters its next phase as lawmakers begin to negotiate the annual budget. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain explains. 

In August of 2022, Raleigh’s iconic theater, its oldest theater, shut its doors. Almost everyone who is a Raleigh native has been to the Rialto on Glenwood Avenue in the Five Points neighborhood to catch a movie, a concert or a live performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was known for its independent films and its old-world feel, a feeling like you had stepped back in time to an era when everyone saw movies in the theater and not on their devices. The theater now has a new owner who promises to bring it back to life. In this episode, photojournalist Rick Armstrong tells us what the future holds for the Rialto.

https://www.wral.com/story/rialto-raleigh-s-oldest-movie-theater-reopening-this-summer-with-new-owners/20850335/

A rare century plant in the WRAL Azalea Garden has just begun blooming. According to legend, century plants bloom every hundred years. However, in reality, it’s lifespan is only 10-30 years. It blooms once, then dies. The stalk grows rapidly and can reach impressive heights of up to 35 feet. Visitors are welcome to come see it on our WRAL campus or watch it in action on our livestream. WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah explains the science and the history behind this magnificent plant.

https://www.wral.com/20850992/

https://www.wral.com/20851082/

Major changes in North Carolina’s health care landscape are moving through the General Assembly this legislative session. In addition to new abortion rules and Medicaid expansion, the state's largest insurer may get new freedom from regulation. UNC Health, meanwhile, wants more power to negotiate deals and change employee health and retirement plans. These shifts may lead to more vertical integration in the sector, affecting what you pay. Rose Hoban, editor of NC Health News, joins the Daily Download to break it down.

Hurricanes’ commentator Tripp Tracy shares his struggles with alcoholism and his yearlong journey through his newfound sobriety. There was a dramatic moment of realization for him after he fell into deep despair in a hotel room in New York City that changed his life and put him on this positive path to better health. Now, he wants to inspire others to get the help they need. WRAL’s Kacy Hintz shares his powerful and very personal interview in this special edition of the WRAL Daily Download. 

Lawsuits from watchdog Disability Rights NC could force the state to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help people with disabilities live at home. The push threatens existing group homes and workshops that employ people with disabilities - arrangements some families are happy with. WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain explains the conflict. 

A Fuquay-Varina family lost their 15-year-old daughter to an allergic peanut reaction. Doctors say food allergies in children have increased dramatically, more than fifty percent in the past two decades. 700,000 people are currently diagnosed with food allergies in the U.S. Why the increase, and are there tangible solutions? In this episode, WRAL’s 5 on Your Side reporter Keely Arthur joins us with some answers to these questions.

North Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill that would restrict abortion after twelve weeks. Some people say it doesn't go far enough. Others say it goes too far and could lead to a total ban on abortion in North Carolina. Roe v. Wade, the landmark federal ruling that made abortion legal for the past 50 years, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. Now, the right to allow or restrict abortions is up to the individual states to decide. The bill was introduced by Republican lawmakers just this week and was fastracked to a vote. The votes have fallen down party lines. The governor is expected to veto it when it crosses his desk. Reporter Paul Specht, a member of the NC Capitol Team, walks us through the legislative process and explains what's next.