WRAL Daily Download

WRAL’s Gerald Owens talks with former North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams about his life in retirement -- from putting on the Tar Heels mascot costume for a cameo in a Super Bowl commercial, to watching UNC games as a fan instead of as a coach. The wide-ranging conversation covers NIL, the transfer portal, and the simple joy of finally having the time to play a round of golf during basketball season.

Some people watch for the game, others watch for the half-time show, still others watch for the creative commercials that we remember long after the game fades from our memories. This year WRAL picked a winner with a commercial that wowed audiences with a surprise appearance from a legendary sports figure. We speak with Capitol Broadcasting Marketing Director John Gilliam about how he created this year’s big hit.

African Americans fleeing slavery took refuge in this swampy area that straddles the northern North Carolina and Virginia line in the 1800’s. Today, it is part of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. As part of our special coverage of Black History Month, Hidden History reporter Heather Leah took a trip to these wetlands and shares her experience along with the history, the myths and the lore of this fascinating place.

Wait times are up again at North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles, and it’s not even the busy season. 5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur joins us to break down what she found at the state’s DMV and what’s causing the delays. Plus: Tips to make your experience move faster.

Thirty-five years ago two men walked into a Robeson County newspaper with sawed off shotguns, chained the doors and demanded to speak to the governor. During the 10-hour ordeal, WRAL anchor Charlie Gaddy spoke to one of the men live on the air. Documentary photographer Jay Jennings covered the story that day, and remembers a “surreal” day and story.

In the past week, we’ve seen multiple schools in Wake County on lockdowns after threats of violence were made on social media. This prompted schools to add extra security to basketball games over the weekend. Some parents say they are thinking about keeping their children home in light of these threats. WRAL reporter Adam Owens explains.

North Carolina schools are handed an A-F letter grade every year, marking them for success or failure in the eyes of regulators and the public. State education leaders say those grades rely too much on standardized tests, which most of the state’s teachers don’t even teach. WRAL Education Insider Emily Walkenhorst explains what they’re doing to change the way they assess schools.

As a special bonus episode today, listen in on WRAL anchor/reporter Ken Smith’s extended interview with North Carolina State University professor Jason Miller about recently found film of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Reynolds Coliseum in 1966. Miller talks about the moment he found out about the existence of the film after years of searching, the images it shows – including a KKK protest outside the coliseum – and how the film informs our collective understanding of this complicated and important moment in North Carolina’s civil rights history.

It’s only 22 seconds long and it’s silent, but this newly discovered film of Martin Luther King visiting Reynolds Coliseum in July of 1966 speaks volumes. WRAL reporter and anchor Ken Smith interviews people who vividly remember that day and speaks to an NCSU English professor who has spent years researching the visit. This is part of our special Black History Month coverage.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis spent five years in the Bull City and now has found herself in the middle of a national firestorm—the beating death of a man after a traffic stop by five of her officers. She called the incident “heinous, reckless and inhumane.” She fired the officers and disbanded their special unit. WRAL reporter Sarah Krueger talks about Davis’ time serving Durham and how the experience prepared her for this moment in history.

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